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In a fragmented research and innovation landscape, Europe\u2019s transition towards a reliable, sustainable and affordable zero-carbon energy system faces a number of challenges. To overcome these obstacles, the EU-funded CETP(opens in new window)<\/a> project is creating and fostering transnational innovation ecosystems by pooling national and regional research funding for different technologies and solutions that further Europe\u2019s clean energy transition.<\/p>\n As part of its efforts, CETP is carrying out annual joint calls for projects needing funding for their clean energy solutions. One such project is SUPREME(opens in new window)<\/a>, selected in the 2024 CETP call for projects that aim to address the problems of green hydrogen production.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAddressing green hydrogen\u2019s steep costs and environmental concerns<\/p>\n The EU aims to produce 10 million tonnes of renewable green hydrogen by 2030 to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors. However, current green hydrogen production via proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis is limited by high costs and the reliance on scarce, expensive materials. While PEM electrolysis stands out as a leading production method particularly due to its ability to adapt to fluctuating renewable energy from wind and solar sources, it costs far more than fossil fuel-based hydrogen production. The method also carries a heavy environmental cost. It currently depends on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), better known as forever chemicals. Because of their severe health and ecological impacts, the EU is moving to phase out these substances, posing a future challenge for PEM technology.<\/p>\n The three-year SUPREME project is overcoming these hurdles by developing a next-generation electrolysis system that is environmentally friendly and sustainable. Over the next few years, researchers led by the University of Southern Denmark will develop an efficient PFAS-free electrolysis system that also uses significantly smaller amounts of critical raw materials such as iridium, an expensive metal used in PEM electrolysis. The team aims to reduce iridium use by up to 75 %, while also developing recycling methods that can recover 90 % of the metal from decommissioned systems.<\/p>\n \u201cHydrogen is used as a raw material in very large quantities, and this will continue to increase in the future. These include the production of ammonia, methanol production and the steel industry,\u201d remarks Merit Bodner from Austria\u2019s Graz University of Technology, one of the institutions collaborating on the SUPREME project, in a news release(opens in new window)<\/a> posted on \u2018Science Daily\u2019. \u201cIf we succeed in avoiding the use of harmful substances in the production of green hydrogen and we can also bring it to a similar price level as fossil hydrogen in economic terms, we will have taken an important step towards the green transition. This also makes it more attractive for other applications, such as storing surplus energy from renewables.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnnouncing another call<\/p>\n CETP (Clean Energy Transition Partnership) is now launching its fifth annual call, Joint Call 2026(opens in new window)<\/a>. The call launch(opens in new window)<\/a> has been scheduled for 26 May, with pre-proposal submissions opening on 8 June.<\/p>\n