10/21/2025

Project Launch TiSPA – Innovative Materials for PEM Water Electrolysis

Project launch TiSPA – Innovative materials for PEM water electrolysis

The TiSPA project - titanium substitution in PEMWE through alternative bipolar plates with innovative thin-film coating - has officially started. PEM water electrolysis bipolar plates currently rely on titanium and noble-metal components – materials that are a major cost driver. The goal of TiSPA is to significantly reduce material costs by using alternative materials such as stainless steel, graphite, and innovative coatings based on noble metals, carbides, or nitrides. At the same time, the efficiency and durability of the technology shall be maintained or even improved.

This industry-focused project brings together leading partners across the entire value chain: Whitecell Eisenhuth develops and evaluates new materials, VON ARDENNE contributes its expertise in coating, the ISFH develops alternative PVD coatings and conducts ex-situ and short-term in-situ testing, while the IfES carries out long-term experiments, modeling, and techno-economic analysis. Finally, iGas-Energy ensures the transfer of the developed materials into commercial applications. The project is supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

With this strong industry and research consortium, TiSPA is aiming to make an important contribution to making PEM water electrolysis more cost-efficient and thus more competitive for large-scale deployment in the hydrogen economy.

Institute of Electrical Power Systems (IfES)

The Institute of Electrical Power Systems (IfES) – Electric Energy Storage Systems Section at Leibniz University Hannover – conducts research and development on technologies for the efficient conversion, storage, and utilization of electrical energy. A particular focus lies on PEM water electrolysis, a key technology for sustainable hydrogen production. The IfES investigates fundamental physicochemical processes such as product permeation, gas purity, multiphase mass transport, and current density distribution in spatially distributed cells. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic operating behavior of electrolyzers and to develop innovative concepts for their stable and efficient integration into future energy systems. Combining model-based system analysis, numerical simulation, and experimental validation, the IfES is among the leading research institutions in the field of electrochemical energy conversion.

iGas energy

iGas energy GmbH, headquartered in Stolberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, specializes in developing and manufacturing systems that recover and repurpose resources once considered lost. At the heart of its innovation lies deep expertise in gas technology - particularly in handling hydrogen.

In the field of water electrolysis, iGas has developed a PEM electrolyzer stack known as ELZA, distributed through the Bosch Group. The company has also developed the Green Electrolyzer, a modular, container-based PEM electrolysis system marketed by its partner, Fest GmbH. Beyond product development, iGas is actively involved in research projects focused on PEM electrolysis and electrochemical processes in general - continuously pushing the boundaries of sustainable energy solutions.

Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin (ISFH)

ISFH develops innovative technologies for a sustainable energy supply and stands for industry-oriented research. With around 165 employees, it conducts research in two departments on efficient solutions for the use of solar energy and renewable energy supply for buildings and neighborhoods. The Photovoltaics department focuses on the development of new industry-oriented solar cell technologies, highly efficient industrializable photovoltaic modules and investigates the integration of PV in innovative systems. The Solar Systems Technology department develops solutions for the integration of solar energy, heat pumps and hydrogen into our future sustainable energy system. ISFH is a member of the Research Association for Renewable Energies (FVEE) and the Zuse Association as well as an affiliated institute of Leibniz Universität Hannover.

VON ARDENNE

VON ARDENNE develops and manufactures systems for the industrial vacuum coating of materials such as glass, wafers, metal strips, or polymer films. Depending on the application, these layers are between one nanometer and a few micrometers thick and impart new functional properties to the materials. Our customers use these materials to produce high-quality products such as fuel cells, solar cells, architectural glass and vehicle glazing, lithium-ion batteries, or microelectronic components for sensors and optics. With more than 60 years of experience in electron beam technology and over 50 years of expertise in magnetron sputtering, VON ARDENNE remains a pioneer and a worldwide leading provider of systems and technologies in PVD thin-film and vacuum process technology.

Whitecell Eisenhuth

Whitecell Eisenhuth, based in Osterode am Harz, has established itself as a respected manufacturer of bipolar plates and gaskets and offers tailor-made solutions for fuel cell manufacturers who are ready to launch their products on the market. In the context of developments in the field of electrolysis, Whitecell Eisenhuth has developed composite plates, among other things, and currently produces them in small series with its 65 employees. The experience and existing technology gained from these activities can also benefit the project applied for here.