BOSTON - Advent Technologies Holdings, Inc., a leader in the fuel cell and hydrogen technology sectors based in Boston, announced that the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Safran Power Units, a leader in auxiliary power systems and turbojet engines based in Toulouse, France to jointly advance the development of next-generation high-temperature proton exchange membrane (HT-PEM) fuel cell technology, specifically for the aerospace sector.
HT-PEM enables more efficient heat management versus low temperature-PEM (LT-PEM). It is more adapted for applications requiring high amounts of power combined with strong integration constraints such as aviation. HT PEM is more robust and can withstand harsh conditions, such as extreme temperatures and pollution, versus LT-PEM. Outdoor Membrane Switch
The collaboration is also supported by a strong research consortium including Safran Tech, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, Fraunhofer Institute, the French National Center for Scientific Research, the University of Strasbourg, and the IMDEA Energy Institute. Led by Safran Power Units and with the support of Advent, the consortium has secured a grant for the Clean Hydrogen Partnership TC3-08 NIMPHEA Project. Running from 2023 to 2026, the project is funded by Horizon Europe. NIMPHEA Project’s main objective is to develop an aircraft-compatible, next-generation HT-PEM MEA. This involves optimizing various components such as the catalyst layer, membrane, and gas diffusion layer. Advent’s Ion Pair MEA technology serves as the foundation for these advancements.
As part of the newly signed MoU, Advent and Safran Power Units are exploring a joint development agreement for the advancement of HT-PEM fuel cells in aviation and for enhancing Advent’s supply capability.
Outdoor Membrane Switch “We are proud to collaborate with Safran Power Units, a major aviation partner focused on innovation, to advance the decarbonization of the aerospace sector through the development of HT-PEM fuel cell technology. We look forward to a long and highly successful collaboration, leveraging our Ion Pair MEA technology and Safran Power Units expertise, to drive the adoption of Advent’s next-generation fuel cell solutions and contribute to a greener future for aviation, Vasilis Kopelas, Advent’s vice president of corporate strategy and business development.”