Project name: ENABLER
Company name: ReCatalyst
Total Budget: €2 495 900
EU Contribution: €2 495 900
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia
ENABLER’s main goals are to assemble, demonstrate, and test a short stack of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC).
This energy-generating device will have a reduced platinum content (0.3 mgPt/cm²) and will be free of perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) compounds.
It aims to match the performance of current state-of-the-art PFSA-based PEMFCs. At the same time, the project will prepare the technologies for market readiness.
Vision & ImpactBy improving the economy viability and sustainability of production of PEM fuel cells, while also contributing to the creation of a new industry and deep tech development, ENABLER unlocks significant environmental, societal and economic benefits and contributes to EU climate goals.
CollaborationThe EIC has closely supported the implementation of the project at every step of its development. Two members of the ReCatalyst team took part in the Women Leadership Programme. The team is also actively involved in the InnoNext programme and regularly engages with business acceleration services and webinars offered through the EIC. These events have helped them build valuable connections.
What's next ?ReCatalyst has successfully reached TRL 6 with its technologies and achieved performance goals in large (200 cm²) single cells. The remaining phase of the project focuses on the joint development of a PGM-light, PFAS-free short-stack demonstrator. The team is also actively fundraising for its Series A round and applying for further support from the EIC.
EIC support, specifically the Transition project has been nothing less than transformative for our start-up company. The structure of the project has been incredibly complementary with our Seed investment round goals in terms of the TRLs, the technology as well as the business development. The small consortium concept has also enabled a unique framework of building an EU hydrogen value-chain partnership with ReCatalyst as the catalyst producer, ionysis as the PFAS-free catalyst coated membrane producer as well as EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies as the fuel cell stack end-user that is providing the relevant specifications and requirements as well as complex industrial single-cell and stack-level validations. In addition, the support enabled further benefits such as the EIC Booster project participation with University of Galway to enable also market activities on AEM water electrolysis. Lastly, it provided many additional opportunities for events to meet with the stakeholders and investors, but also other EIC supported start-ups.
ReCatalyst's timeline
- Apr - Jun 2023
Seed round closed
- Jan - Mar 2024
Existing patents granted in most major jurisdictions
EIT Awards 2024 - 2nd and 3rd place - Apr - Jun 2024
First water electrolysis PoC client
Rented ∼1000 m2 new facility
- Jul - Sept 2024
Achieved performance milestone with our next-gen catalyst as part of EIC Transition
- Oct - Dec 2024
Beneficiary in EU flagship project on green ammonia and methanol technologies - ALCHEMHY
Obtained ISO 9001
Filled new key patent application/launched our next-gen catalyst
- Jan - Mar 2025
Pilot reactors are operational