The EU-funded SUPREME project, led by the University of Southern Denmark with Graz University of Technology and other partners, seeks to deliver PFAS-free, more efficient electrolysis over three years while reducing critical materials like iridium.

Green hydrogen is essential for decarbonization, but current PEM electrolysis is costly and environmentally challenging due to PFAS use and high costs compared with fossil-fuel hydrogen.

The project is funded by CETPartnership and co-funded by the European Commission, under a 2024 joint call, with the goal of bringing green hydrogen closer in price to fossil-based hydrogen to expand industrial use and energy storage.

Fraunhofer ISE will supply membrane electrode units, while Element One Energy AS works on a rotating electrolyser to boost performance.

A key objective is to cut iridium usage by up to 75% and implement recycling methods that could recover about 90% of iridium still needed.

TU Graz researchers are testing PFAS-free materials for durability and efficiency in continuous industrial operation, and TÜBITAK is developing PFAS-free microporous membranes for future systems.