DESIREE project set to improve green hydrogen production for a decarbonised future
A new European research initiative is developing high-efficiency electrolysis technologies to produce renewable hydrogen from water in a more sustainable, cost-effective and efficient way, using advanced and responsible approaches to reduce CO₂ emissions.
Hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, is an excellent energy carrier that can store and deliver energy in a clean and versatile form, but it is rarely found on its own and must be produced from compounds such as water or hydrocarbons. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s Global Hydrogen Review 2023, only about one per cent of global hydrogen production currently comes from low-emission sources, as most is derived from fossil fuels through processes that release large quantities of carbon dioxide. Increasing the production of renewable hydrogen is therefore essential to decarbonising sectors such as heavy industry, long-distance transport and large-scale energy storage.
The DESIREE project (Development of Enhanced SOEL Components for Improved Reliability and Endurance) addresses this challenge by advancing Solid Oxide Electrolyser (SOEL) technology, which produces hydrogen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis at high temperature. When powered by renewable electricity, this process generates hydrogen without releasing carbon emissions.
Running from January 2026 to June 2029, DESIREE will design, build and validate a 40-kilowatt prototype system, building on state-of-the-art stack technologies and focusing on their optimisation, integration and operational performance at system level. The project will demonstrate how high-temperature electrolysis, combined with thermochemical hydrogen compression, can enable the direct supply of pressurised hydrogen in a single integrated system. Overall efficiency is expected to exceed 85 per cent, representing a gain of more than 15 per cent compared with existing electrolysis technologies.
Setting a new state of the art
While current SOEL systems already offer high efficiency, they face challenges related to long-term durability, energy consumption and operation under variable renewable energy conditions. DESIREE will address these challenges by introducing innovations across the entire system, from materials and components to system design and control.
The project, which is coordinated by CENER, involves a European consortium made up of 10 partners and 2 affiliate entities. Main focus is placed at improving the performance and sustainability of solid oxide electrolysers, by innovating at different research levels.
At materials level, improved performance and durability of cells and stacks (the basic repeating units of a SOEL system) are targeted through several complementary research activities, including (i) the development of advanced electrodes enhanced with nanoscale materials, (ii) the integration of durable glass-ceramic sealing systems, and (iii) the recycling of critical raw materials such as nickel, cobalt, lanthanum and strontium and their reintegration into the cell fabrication process, together with additional materials-related developments addressing long-term stability, operating temperature reduction and compatibility with system-level integration.
At system level, DESIREE will integrate a modular and compartmentalised design that improves efficiency and simplifies maintenance, while recovering and reusing heat with improved heat exchangers to then compress the hydrogen without additional electricity consumption. Moreover, advanced control strategies and Power Electronics will be designed, to ensure an effective and efficient integration with renewable energies.
Towards a sustainable and inclusive energy future
DESIREE is a key step towards cleaner and more resilient energy systems. By advancing scientific innovation, sustainable design and circular manufacturing, it will help accelerate the adoption of clean hydrogen solutions for industry, transport and energy storage.
“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”, said project coordinator Iñigo Garbayo, Manager of the Hydrogen Area at CENER’s Grid Integration Department.
On a global scale, DESIREE’s innovations will contribute to the decarbonisation of industry and transport by improving the integration of renewable electricity with hydrogen-based energy systems. The project also promotes education, training and gender-inclusive participation across the hydrogen value chain, supporting social, economic and technological progress.
Project news will be shared through the DESIREE website www.desiree-hydrogen.eu and on the project’s official LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/desiree-project.
A European alliance of excellence
DESIREE is coordinated by CENER, the Spain’s National Renewable Energy Centre, and involves twelve organisations from six European countries (Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Finland): Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de Zaragoza, Politecnico di Torino, Genvia, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, (through the Institute for Silicate Research ISC and the Center for High Temperature Materials and Design HTL), Bosal, Bosal Energy, EIFHYTEC, Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Zabala Innovation.
With a total budget of nearly €4 million, the project is supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme.
Contact information:
- Project Coordination: Iñigo Garbayo: igarbayo@cener.com
- Communication: Mariano Echávarri: mechavarri@zabala.es | Ana Báscones: abascones@zabala.es
