Renewable bipolar plates for sustainable fuel cell technology, stage 2 (BioBPP 2)

Purpose and goal

The overall aim of the BioBPP 2 is to establish and verify an entirely circular value chain for cost-effective manufacturing of completely renewable carbon/polymer composite bipolar plates (BPPs) for sustainable fuel cell (FC) applications. To achieve this aim the project will pursue 5 main objectives including development of carbon- and resin material from sustainable raw material resources; design, manufacturing and characterization of renewable composite BPPs; evaluation of the performance of renewable composite BPPs in a FC short stack system; LCA and recycling trials.

Expected effects and result

The BioBPP 2 project builds on promising results in the stage 1 feasibility study as well as know-how and experience that we keep developing regarding bio-based composites, graphite composite BPPs and FCs. The project will also design and build one of the first FC stacks in Sweden for evaluation of novel components particularly renewable ones. The success will allow significantly reduced reliance on imported raw materials especially the non-renewable ones for BPPs and FC system, increase the added value in the Swedish and European bio-based sector and expand bioeconomy in Sweden.

Planned approach and implementation

The BioBPP 2 project has 9 high-tech SMEs and companies presenting a complete value chain from development of sustainable carbon- and resin material to renewable BPPs- and FC short stack system, and end-of-life solutions. This includes several global companies leading R&D in the field of FCEVs, sustainable batteries and special polymers and intermediates. The project will be carried out in 5 working packages (WPs). WP1 focuses on project management; WP2 to WP3 on technology development; WP4 on LCA and recycling, and WP5 on business development, exploitation and dissemination.