Proposed EU ban on a plastic used in electrolysers could cause 'massive disruption' to European hydrogen sector
Fluoropolymers are a vital ingredient in PEM and AEM machines, and there is currently no viable alternative, Hydrogen Insight has learned
A proposed European-level ban on a critical type of plastic used in electrolysis equipment could “massively disrupt” the ramp up of electrolyser manufacturing capacity in Europe, an alliance of EU member states, NGOs and hydrogen industry players has warned.
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The European Clean Hydrogen Alliance (ECHA) — a public-private partnership launched by the EU in 2020 to bring about clean hydrogen production in the bloc — said that the proposed ban on fluoropolymers is freezing investment in the material.
This, in turn could “massively disrupt” electrolyser manufacturing capacity expansion in the bloc, the ECHA warned.
In addition, they are similarly needed in the PEM fuel cells that are used in hydrogen-powered vehicles, potentially causing huge problems for that sector too.
Nevertheless, the European Chemicals Agency is currently considering a blanket ban on the family of plastics to which fluoropolymers belong — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs) — from 2025 at the earliest.
Characterised by chains of linked carbon and fluorine atoms that are difficult to break apart — and therefore referred to as “forever chemicals” — PFAs were used in consumer products for decades.
They do not degrade so are useful in manufacturing — but can also be harmful to the environment and have been shown to build up in the bloodstreams of animals and humans.
However, Hydrogen Europe and plastics manufacturing trade body Plastics Europe have argued that fluoropolymers do not meet the same toxicological harm level as other PFAs, and should therefore be excluded from the ban.
The ECHA has additionally proposed that fluoropolymers used specifically to manufacture and use electrolysers and fuel cells should be exempt from the ban.
“As far as the hydrogen sector is concerned, there are currently zero alternatives to fluoropolymers, which is why we are advocating for their exemption from the PFAS regulation,” a spokesperson for Hydrogen Europe said. “Even a 15-year derogation [proposed by some] would only kick the can down the road.”
Electrolyser manufacturer Nel, which makes both PEM and alkaline machines, has been testing some possible alternatives but reports that there they are many years away from being commercially or technically viable.
He adds: "To put that into perspective, a customer needs to be running their electrolyser 5000-8000 hours a year at least to make a business case."
The warning comes as the ECHA also raised the alarm about the EU’s target in its Critical Raw Materials Act to diversify the supply of critical materials — including platinum group metals (PGMs) — by 65%.
“PGMs in fuel cells and electrolysers are mostly sourced from one or a few supplier countries,” the ECHA said. “Large dependency from South Africa for those metals cannot be avoided.”
The EU derives 71% of its platinum supply and 93% of its iridium supply from South Africa.
What are fluoropolymers and why are they important for electrolyser manufacture?
Fluoropolymers are part of a group of plastics that play a key role in the electrochemical reaction that takes place in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) or anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysers and fuel cells.
Specifically, the fluoropolymer-coated membrane separating the anode and cathode electrodes in a PEM or AEM electrolyser allows only protons to pass from one electrode to another, enabling the electrochemical reaction that produces hydrogen in an electrolyser, or electricity in a fuel cell.
And, as they are hardy and resistant to electricity and heat, fluoropolymers are also used to coat the equipment used in balance-of-plant electrolysis equipment, including gaskets, auxiliary systems, storage tanks, pipes and welding.