ThunderStack research project develops more sustainable solutions for green hydrogen production

Green hydrogen plays a key role in Europe’s clean energy transition. It can be used in various sectors, including industry, energy storage and as a clean fuel.

SOEL systems operate at temperatures above 700°C and produce hydrogen from water using electricity. This makes them particularly energy-efficient when heat is available from industrial processes or renewable sources.

However, large-scale deployment of SOEL technology still requires improvements in durability, cost-effectiveness, system stability and environmental performance. These are the challenges ThunderStack aims to address.
 

Maximising performance, minimising environmental impact

“Our goal is to extend the operational lifetime of high-temperature solid oxide electrolysers to over 40,000 hours and reduce both capital and operational costs,” says project coordinator, Associate Professor Imran Asghar from Tampere University’s Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences.

The project seeks solutions to current system limitations by developing advanced materials and improving manufacturing processes. It also includes the design of Balance of Plant (BoP) components – supporting systems such as pumps, heat exchangers and control units – and introduces a new AC/DC operation model to improve thermal management.

ThunderStack will also apply accelerated stress testing, advanced modelling, and circular economy strategies, including the recovery of critical raw materials.

“Green hydrogen is central to Europe’s energy transition. To make it a truly viable alternative, we need to improve how it’s produced. This project is a step in the right direction,” says Asghar.