GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Proposals should address the following:

• Proof of concept, design and adaptation of approaches from automation industry, whose implementation for the production of cells, stack components or stacks, could significantly improve production process for selected critical manufacturing processes should be considered;
• The demonstration of two or more automated production steps, initially performed manually with considerable time effort, should be performed. The ones with the greater impact on costs and waste production should be considered preferably;
• Archetype for the mass production of FC, definition of a virtual production process with a high degree of automation (at least 75%) and implementation of mature methodologies known from automation industry for target production volume of at least 100 MW/year (from 20,000 to 100,000 units/year depending on nominal stack power) utilising the developed automated production step should be planned;
• Techno-economic assessment and demonstration of stack output of 100 MW/year (corresponding from 20,000 to 100,000 units/year depending on single stack power) resulting in target manufacturing costs <800 €/kWel should be provided;
• Digital concept for complete component tracking and continuous validation of virtual twins for component and/or stack manufacturing should be considered;
• Circularity assessment in technology / prototypes development should be provided;
• The IPR on the manufacturing tool and equipment is to be with the automation company, in order to enable other manufacturers to benefit from the experience and to strengthen the overall sectors competitiveness in Europe.

The focus of the project is to demonstrate, in an industrial environment, the possibility of automating the most expensive processes, today performed manually or with technologies not suitable for the achievement of the production objectives described in the topic. The project should close the gaps for design and supply of automated turn-key equipment for production of stacks and/or stack components.