Impact theme
Renewable energy integration and grid modernisation

Sector
Energy Systems
Transportation

Stage

Affiliation
DTU Energy

Team
Hendrik Bohn, PhD and Project Lead
Ragnar Kiebach, Professor and Scientific Advisor

Why it Matters

The technology has the potential to significantly mitigate the larger climate challenge of greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrogen and ammonia production, both of which are vital for various industrial processes and energy solutions. If fully implemented and widely adopted, a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions from these sectors could be achieved, which currently account for millions of tons of greenhouse gases annually. The hypothesis for potential impact is that the widespread adoption of Proton Conducting Ceramic Cells would lead to a significant decrease in reliance on fossil fuels for hydrogen and ammonia production. This shift would not only reduce direct emissions but also enhance energy efficiency by using renewable energy sources, thereby supporting a more sustainable energy landscape.

Working on

PROSPER aims to upscale and long-term test planar Proton Conducting Ceramic Cells (PCCs) as a technology platform for Power-to-X. PCCs feature a ceramic gas-tight layer that allows only hydrogen ions to pass, ensuring 100% selective hydrogen extraction from any hydrogen containing gas. Protonic Ceramic Cells share similar materials and architecture with solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOECs) but offer two major advantages: (a) They can produce significantly more hydrogen per unit area at lower temperatures by operating at higher current densities—approximately 100% higher than SOECs—and (b) they enable a much broader range of applications. Unlike SOECs, which are limited to electrolysis, PCCs can also extract and compress hydrogen from sources like methane or ammonia with minimal energy loss. This process yields over 98% pure hydrogen, leaving only water and CO₂ as byproducts, both of which can be easily captured. The reverse reactions can synthesize ammonia or fuels, positioning PCCs as an ideal platform for Power-to-X applications