In January 2024, the Kick-off Meeting of the X-SEED project took place at Leitat’s headquarters in Terrassa, marking the official start of this ambitious European initiative. As the project coordinator, Leitat welcomed all consortium partners to establish the foundation for collaboration and define the strategies that will guide the project’s development in the coming years.
X-SEED aims to revolutionise renewable hydrogen production through the development of an innovative electrolyser that promises greater efficiency and lower production costs compared to current technologies. This new technology is based on supercritical water conditions, which reduce energy consumption and dependence on critical and expensive materials. Thanks to a membrane-free design, the electrolyser not only simplifies manufacturing but also enhances durability and reduces operational costs.
Renewable hydrogen is considered a key component in decarbonising the European economy. Its potential to replace fossil fuels in hard-to-electrify industrial sectors, such as steel, cement, and fertiliser production, makes it a strategic solution for achieving the European Union’s climate targets. Furthermore, hydrogen produced through clean technologies can be used in sustainable mobility, electricity generation, and industrial processes requiring high temperatures.
The X-SEED consortium comprises prominent European partners: Snam S.p.A., Particular Materials, Industrie De Nora, and the Technical University of Denmark, with Leitat serving as the project coordinator. This international collaboration is co-funded by the European Union and supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, ensuring a strong scientific and technological foundation for the project’s success.
“We believe X-SEED has the potential to transform renewable hydrogen production, significantly contributing to the decarbonisation of the European economy,” states Pau Bosch, the project’s scientific coordinator at Leitat. According to Bosch, leveraging residual heat from high-temperature industries to power the electrolyser could notably improve process efficiency and further reduce reliance on fossil energy sources.
The Kick-off Meeting not only served to present the project’s technical objectives but also to strengthen partnerships, promote knowledge exchange, and establish a collaborative work plan to maximise X-SEED’s impact in the field of clean energy.
As the project progresses, we will continue to share updates and achievements that reflect our commitment to sustainability and technological innovation. X-SEED represents an important step towards a greener and more resilient future for Europe.
