PROPULS GMBH

ProPuls GmbH is a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) specializing in process measuring and control technology for, as well as process simulation and automation of energy systems. The company has many years of experience in power plant technology and large-scale industrial systems. ProPuls’s clients include established companies in the energy sector as well as, e.g., biogas plant operators. In addition, hydrogen technology is an important business area for the company, which offers customized solutions for reactor and plant technology commercially. The foundation of ProPuls’ developments in the hydrogen field is a patent family focused on hydraulic cell compression for membrane-based water electrolysis, which is also used in the development of individual project test cells as well as the SWEETHY prototype.

The development of a direct seawater electrolyzer cell and stack design is based on earlier work in the field of PEM and AEM water electrolysis. For ProPuls, being part of the project is beneficial to increase knowledge about the prospective direct seawater electrolysis technology and to consequently further develop individually designed technology that shall soon be commercialized. ProPuls will participate in the project by further advancing the stack platform based on the patented hydraulic cell compression and by developing a scalable prototype in pocket design to address hydrogen production in coastal regions or even offshore. Especially, ProPuls will work on enhancing the modularity of electrolyzer and on the possibility to individually control the single cells, leading thereby to significant technological breakthrough and the basis for future commercial products.

ProPuls will actively contribute to harmonizing the test protocols on cell-level conducted at various European institutes. Based on jointly agreed definitions, ProPuls will initially provide the necessary laboratory testing equipment. Following the initial tests with novel materials suitable for a direct seawater electrolysis, ProPuls will develop and manufacture the SWEETHY prototype based on the hydraulic single cell compression. Further, ProPuls will closely support the analysis of the reactor in a unique test bench for seawater electrolysis.