New £1.5m UK-Taiwan initiative targets next-gen hydrogen production with Bramble Energy’s breakthrough electrolyser technology

UK cleantech specialist Bramble Energy, in partnership with Taiwan-based Tripod Technology Corporation and Tripod Nanotechnology Corporation, today announces the launch of a £1.5m ‘POWER project’ - an initiative set to develop Bramble’s patented Printed Circuit Board AEM electrolyser (PCBEL™) and redefine the economics and scalability of hydrogen production. 

Co-funded by Innovate UK and Taiwan’s Department of Industrial Technology via the UK-Taiwan CRD 2024 program, the project - named ‘POWER: Printed Circuit Board Optimised Water Electrolysis with Reduced Platinum Group Metals (PGM)’ - builds on the success of Bramble’s existing PCBEL™ stack technology. 

Key milestones so far include demonstrating it in a 25 kW stack, operating on just 0.1 mol/L KOH (potassium hydroxide solution) - a significantly less corrosive concentration that simplifies handling, reduces stringent safety requirements, and enables a broader range of material choices. PCBEL™ has also achieved the Clean Hydrogen Partnership’s 2030 targets for performance and critical raw material (CRM) content, and it leverages the high-volume, low-cost printed circuit board (PCB) supply chain, which has reached an industry-leading volume cost of $200/kW for AEM stacks.

Within the project, Bramble Energy and its partners will refine the PCBEL™ cell and stack design, while integrating breakthrough catalysts and developing membrane electrode assemblies (MEA). 

The result will see the cost of AEM electrolyser stacks further lowered by improving durability and operational flexibility.

“We are thrilled to announce this £1.5m project to develop our groundbreaking PCBEL™ technology,” said Dr Tom Mason, CEO of Bramble Energy. “This is more than just an upgrade in technology; by combining cutting-edge engineering with a commitment to affordability and sustainability, we’ll be able to push the limits of cost, performance and durability, propelling our electrolyser technology towards large-scale commercialisation. Being able to deliver a low-cost, scalable and reduced precious-metal solution to hydrogen production will be an exciting turning point for the entire hydrogen economy, helping drive the transition to a clean energy future.”

Aleck Lin, Vice President of Tripod Technology, adds:  “As a global leader in PCB manufacturing, Tripod Technology is excited to join in this PCB-based pioneering project of advanced AEM electrolyzer development. In the international collaborative project, Tripod and Tripod Nano are dedicated to innovating catalyst and membrane electrode technology for better performance and material sustainability. This partnership with Bramble underscores our commitment to technological leadership and global decarbonization, ensuring stable and scalable material supply for the clean energy transition.”

As governments and industries worldwide seek robust solutions to decarbonise critical sectors, the POWER project positions the consortium at the forefront of the next-generation AEM electrolyser market, while paving the way for a resilient, sustainable energy infrastructure that can meet the demands of tomorrow.

For more information about Bramble Energy, visit https://www.brambleenergy.com/.