UK-based cleantech company Bramble Energy has announced a partnership with Taiwan-based Tripod Technology Corporation and Tripod Nanotechnology Corporation to launch a £1.5m ($1.6m) initiative to advance hydrogen production.
The project, known as POWER: Printed Circuit Board Optimised Water Electrolysis with Reduced Platinum Group Metals (PGM), is based on Bramble Energy’s printed circuit board AEM electrolyser (PCBEL) technology.
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It is co-funded by Innovate UK and Taiwan’s Department of Industrial Technology through the UK-Taiwan CRD 2024 programme.
The project will refine the PCBEL cell and stack design, integrate new catalysts and develop membrane electrode assemblies.
This aims to lower the cost of anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyser stacks by improving durability and operational flexibility.
A key milestone achieved includes the demonstration of a 25MW stack using a less corrosive potassium hydroxide solution, simplifying handling, reducing safety requirements and allowing for a wider selection of materials.
Bramble Energy CEO Tom Mason stated: “We are thrilled to announce this £1.5m project to develop our groundbreaking PCBEL technology.
“This is more than just an upgrade in technology; by combining cutting-edge engineering with a commitment to affordability and sustainability, we’ll be able to push the limits of cost, performance and durability, propelling our electrolyser technology towards large-scale commercialisation.
“Being able to deliver a low-cost, scalable and reduced precious-metal solution to hydrogen production will be an exciting turning point for the entire hydrogen economy, helping drive the transition to a clean energy future.”
Bramble Energy’s PCBEL technology has met the Clean Hydrogen Partnership’s 2030 targets for performance and critical raw material content.
It utilises the printed circuit board supply chain, achieving a volume cost of $200/kW for AEM stacks.
Tripod Technology vice-president Aleck Lin stated: “As a global leader in PCB manufacturing, Tripod Technology is excited to join in this PCB-based pioneering project of advanced AEM electrolyser development.
“In the international collaborative project, Tripod and Tripod Nano are dedicated to innovating catalyst and membrane electrode technology for better performance and material sustainability. This partnership with Bramble underscores our commitment to technological leadership and global decarbonisation, ensuring stable and scaleable material supply for the clean energy transition.”
