Understanding Emissions of PFAS from Electrolysers and/or Fuel cells under Product Use

Deadline: 23 April 2025

The European Commission is inviting applications to identify the root cause of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances compounds in water electrolysers and fuel cells, and to quantify the potential release of these substances into the environment during operation.

Scope

This proposal is expected to focus on the fundamental understanding of the potential PFAS emissions in water electrolysers and fuel cells under product use. Additionally, this project should propose solutions to manage and minimise emissions from current products corresponding to their amount and relevance of emission. It should include recommendations on a reduced release into the environment and propose possible mitigation options for avoidance of emissions.

Expected Outcomes

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:
- Allow science-based decision making for policy makers and industry players;
- Enable industry, policy makers and the public to deepen their understanding of potential PFAS emissions of electrolyser and/or fuel cell systems under product use, and their impact on the environment;
- Identify the emission pathway (vapour, aerosol, liquid phase);
- Allow for targeted solutions to prevent potential PFAS emissions in these systems from new or existing players in the hydrogen field;
- Allow industry to use a standardised method for PFAS emissions measurement under product use;
- Provide mature sampling and testing methods, analytical tools to assess PFAS release to the environment, and to ensure sustainability of fuel cells and/or water electrolysis;
- Pave the way to make fuel cells and/or water electrolysis more sustainable;
- Provide context with the potential emissions and their potential impact, educating the public on balancing the risks of those emissions.

Eligible Projects

Project proposals should define the process of test sample taking, considering e.g.:
- Transport conditions, sampling devices, sample probing, and sample taking conditions (beginning of life, run-in units) at different sites in a system (fuel cell or electrolyser) under product use conditions (e.g. temperature, hydrodynamic conditions, product water emission or air taken);
- Establish comparable and robust results for the samples, and a measure of proper data representation (statistics, relevance, database, reference, administration);
- Define harmonised test protocols for fuel cells and electrolysers during which samples are taken for analysis, providing a procedure how, when, and where the samples are taken (gas, liquid and aerosols).
Establish a comprehensive analytical methodology:
- Establishing a list of relevant substances for targeted analysis of the corresponding samples:
  - Defining method(s) for analysis based on selected samples;
  - Investigating the limits and restrictions of the applied analytical method(s): limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantification (LOQ), mass determination and selectivity, etc.;
  - Evaluating possible impurities and misinterpretations of generated analytical results.