Article published ALHYANCE
Producing hydrogen the leading energy of the future
AIHyance Innovation applies it skills in the field of storing hydrogen gas.
To encourage the emergence of hydrogen as a new energy driver, researchers from CEA Le Ripault, academic laboratories from the universities of Orléans and Tours and innovative SMEs are collaborating as part of the AIHyance Innovation initiative. Created with the support of the regional council in the Indre, Loire and Région Centre communes, this platform falls within the scope of the Sciences and Electronic Energy Systems (S2E2) competitiveness cluster.
Objective: create technological breakthroughs in the field of storing hydrogen gas and components of fuel cells. Research also concerns PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) low temperature fuel cells, with regards to mobility, and SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) high temperature fuel cells, dedicated to stationary applications, in homes and hydrogen production sites. AlHyance Innovation has developed a SOFC that operates for more than 1000 hours and delivers continuous power at 300 Watts. Additional progress: development with Air Liquide and the SMEs Raigi and Ullit of a 22-litre reservoir at 700 bars in a thermoplastic polymer liner with correct behaviour in terms of permeation in a range of temperatures reaching up to 120°C and excellent tensile strength (1534 bars). Boosted by these two success stories, AIHyance would like to develop partnerships between players in the hydrogen sector, namely in terms of the materials for energy sector. A Polymers, Plastics engineering and Composites cluster will be opened in 2010, followed in 2011 with a pre-industrialisation building for productions.
