The HYPRAEL consortium, dedicated to developing next-generation Advanced Alkaline Electrolysis (AEL) for highly pressurized hydrogen production, concludes 2025 having successfully achieved crucial milestones in materials research and international visibility. The project, funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership under Horizon Europe, is now strategically positioned for the final industrial scaling phase in 2026.

Key technical and scientific achievements in 2025

The year 2025 was defined by the successful completion of Phase 1 (materials development) and the highly successful Phase 2 (screening and testing) of the project. This involved validating innovative electrocatalysts, separators, and polymers capable of withstanding the demanding operational parameters of the HYPRAEL system.

• High-temperature operation: Laboratory testing confirmed the stability and performance of developed cell components in single cells 10cm2 at temperatures up to 120º, a significant advance beyond the current state-of-the-art for AEL.

• High-pressure feasibility: Critical data was gathered demonstrating the technical feasibility of in-situ pressurization, reinforcing the project’s goal of reaching 80-100 bar directly within the stack, thereby eliminating energy-intensive downstream mechanical compression processes and achieving near-zero energy loss potential.

Global impact and sustainability

HYPRAEL extended its reach globally, presenting its technical achievements at major international platforms:

• Market Presence: The consortium presented its technical roadmap and initial results at high-profile events, including Hyvolution Paris (January 2025) and HANNOVER MESSE (May 2025), fostering dialogue with key industrial stakeholders regarding the viability of high-pressure AEL.

• Sustainable Partnerships: The project’s commitment to sustainability was underscored by the environmental leadership of its partners. The recent CDP A- rating achieved by the consortium partner Syensqo highlights the project’s dedication to a responsible and sustainable supply chain for critical materials.

Vision 2026: the industrial leap

Looking ahead to 2026, the focus shifts entirely to the industrialization and demonstration phases (Phase 3 and 4).

2025 provided the technical proof of concept for our Advanced Alkaline Electrolysis. The data from 120ºC and high-pressure testing are extremely promising. In 2026, we will begin the assembly and rigorous testing of our innovative 50kW stack demonstrator. This will be the definitive validation step for transferring this highly efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production technology to the market.