The Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC) has opened a new pilot manufacturing line that uses 3D printing to produce ceramic devices for renewable hydrogen applications. The facility, called Merce Lab, manufactures solid oxide cells (SOCs) that can function as both fuel cells and electrolyzers. The pilot line received funding from H2B2 as part of the €25 million Tecnopropia project, with an initial investment of €2 million.
The 3D printing approach offers several manufacturing advantages over traditional methods. The process reduces material consumption and creates lighter, more compact devices with higher energy density. According to Marc Torrell, head of Merce Lab at IREC, “This facility positions us as pioneers in SOC manufacturing at a global scale,” adding that “this is a disruptive approach to manufacturing processes and performance of ceramic-based devices, opening the door to new SOC systems for applications that previously could not meet desired requirements, such as maritime or aviation transport.”
The current pilot line has a manufacturing capacity of approximately 2 MW per year and can be scaled up as needed. The SOC devices achieve four times the power density of existing commercial technologies at an estimated cost of €800/kW. IREC projects this could reduce hydrogen production costs to below €4/kg, while the ceramic-based cells can save up to 25% of the energy required for hydrogen generation compared to polymer-based alternatives.
The manufacturing process covers five main stages: ink preparation, cell manufacturing, interconnector production, component assembly, and final device validation. IREC has established partnerships with several industry companies including H2B2, 3Dceram, AMES, and Viver Clean Tech to accelerate technology development. The institute plans to create a spin-off company called Oxhyd Energy to commercialize the SOC fuel cell technology.
Source: fuelcellsworks.com