DESIREE aims to boost green hydrogen efficiency with next-generation electrolysis technology
DESIREE (Development of Enhanced SOEL Components for Improved Reliability and Endurance), a new European research initiative focused on green hydrogen technologies, has officially launched with the goal of improving the efficiency, durability and sustainability of renewable hydrogen production through advanced Solid Oxide Electrolyser (SOEL) systems.
Supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme, the project brings together leading research centres, universities and industrial partners from across Europe.
Hydrogen is expected to play a critical role in the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors such as steelmaking, chemicals, mobility and renewable fuels. However, according to the International Energy Agency’s Global Hydrogen Review 2023, only around one per cent of global hydrogen production currently comes from low-emission pathways.
Advancing high-temperature electrolysis
DESIREE aims to address this challenge by advancing high-temperature electrolysis technologies capable of producing renewable hydrogen more efficiently than conventional low-temperature systems.
Operating at temperatures between 600 and 850°C, SOEL systems enable highly efficient water electrolysis and offer strong integration potential with renewable electricity and industrial heat sources.
Running from January 2026 to June 2029, the project will design, build and validate a 40-kilowatt multi-stack prototype system focused on improving stack optimisation, system integration and operational performance.
The prototype will combine high-temperature electrolysis with thermochemical hydrogen compression, enabling the direct production of pressurised hydrogen without additional electrical compression. The system is expected to achieve efficiencies above 85%, representing a gain of more than 15% compared with current electrolysis technologies.
Addressing key technological challenges
Although SOEL technology is already recognised for its high efficiency, its large-scale deployment still faces important barriers related to material degradation, thermal stress, durability and dynamic operation under variable renewable energy conditions.
To overcome these limitations, DESIREE will develop advanced electrodes enhanced with nanoscale materials, as well as new glass-ceramic sealing systems designed to improve thermal and chemical stability.
The project will also establish recycling routes for critical raw materials such as nickel, cobalt, lanthanum and strontium, reinforcing its commitment to circularity and sustainable supply chains.
At system level, DESIREE will introduce a modular and compartmentalised architecture aimed at improving operational flexibility, maintenance and thermal management, while advanced control strategies will support stable operation in renewable-energy-based grids.
Supporting Europe’s decarbonisation goals
DESIREE directly contributes to the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Fit for 55 package and the broader transition towards a climate-neutral economy.
“DESIREE directly supports the goals of the European Green Deal, the Fit for 55 package and the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, contributing to the European Union’s commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030 and achieve a fully decarbonised economy by 2050.”
Iñigo Garbayo, Project Coordinator and Manager of the Hydrogen Area at CENER
A European consortium across the hydrogen value chain
Coordinated by CENER, the project involves organisations from Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Finland, including research institutions, technology developers and industrial partners covering the full hydrogen value chain.
Project partners include CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, Politecnico di Torino, GENVIA, Fraunhofer, Bosal, CEA, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Zabala Innovation.
With a total budget of nearly €4 million, DESIREE represents a collaborative European effort to accelerate the deployment of efficient and sustainable hydrogen technologies.
The project can also be followed on LinkedIn.