On Thursday November 9, 2023, Elogen, a French leader in PEM electrolysis - a promising technology for the production of green hydrogen -, CNRS and Université Paris-Saclay signed a partnership agreement to create a joint research laboratory.

Hydrogen is a key lever in successfully ensuring the transition towards a low-carbon society, in all sectors of the economy. PEM (proton exchange membrane) electrolysis is one of the routes towards the industrial scale production of hydrogen, while guaranteeing a minimal carbon footprint.

With the creation of a joint laboratory, Elogen, Université Paris-Saclay and CNRS aim to improve current PEM electrolysis processes and explore the use of the different materials available in quantity to accelerate large-scale green hydrogen production.

The joint laboratory will be located at the Orsay Institute of Molecular Chemistry and Materials (ICMMO - CNRS/Université Paris-Saclay), one of France's leading research laboratories in chemistry, with a focus on organic and inorganic chemistry as well as molecular and materials sciences. It will bring together the scientific expertise of ICMMO's team for Research and Innovation in Electrochemistry for Energy (ERIEE - Equipe de recherche et d'innovation en électrochimie pour l'énergie) in PEM water electrolysis, hydrogen storage and purification, and that of the Elogen teams, with more than 25 years of expertise in the design, manufacturing and marketing of electrolysers.

This new laboratory follows on from the collaboration agreement signed in December 2021 between Elogen and Université Paris-Saclay to strengthen ties forged over more than 20 years, and is part of a wider context of actions undertaken around energy as a societal challenge. These include initiatives within the Institute for Sustainable Energy (IES), supported by Université Paris-Saclay and in which CNRS is a stakeholder, but also within the Campus des Métiers et des Qualifications (CMQ) "Energie Durable (EDu)" or via the Compétences et Métiers d'Avenir (CMA) Hydrogène et technologies avancées des systèmes énergétiques (HTase) project, which are coordinated by Université Paris-Saclay and in which CNRS and Elogen are partners.

The creation of the joint laboratory will also contribute to the training of young researchers, including two CIFRE (Industrial Convention for Training through Research) doctoral students, recruited in this framework.

Jean-Baptiste Choimet, Managing Director of Elogen, comments: "True to our passion for technology, we are proud to collaborate with Université Paris-Saclay and CNRS to build this joint research laboratory. With R&D and innovation forming part of Elogen's historical DNA, it is only natural for us to recommit ourselves to R&D and the training of the next generation of researchers."

Estelle Iacona, President of Université Paris-Saclay, explained: “Driven by the conviction that as a university it is our responsibility to support technological breakthroughs to succeed in the energy transition, we are delighted with the creation of this joint research laboratory with Elogen and CNRS. It will combine academic and technological expertise of the highest level, whilst contributing to the training of students and young researchers.”

Jean-Luc Moullet, Deputy Director General for Innovation at CNRS, said: “CNRS is delighted with this joint laboratory agreement signed with Elogen. The production of green hydrogen is one of the answers to the energy challenge, which is one of the major challenges facing our society, and therefore naturally one of the major societal challenges on which CNRS is focusing. We are also pleased with the creation of this new joint laboratory, which is part of a strong dynamic promoted by our organization in favour of closer ties between the business world and the academic world.”

 

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ABOUT ELOGEN

Elogen, a technological expert at the service of green hydrogen, develops cutting-edge technologies to design and produce PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolysers to meet new uses of hydrogen in mobility, industry and energy storage. Elogen, a company of the GTT group, relies on a powerful R&D and a rigorous manufacturing process to provide its customers with competitive, reliable systems tailored to their needs. The technological solutions developed by Elogen, particularly suitable for renewable energies, demonstrate high efficiency and performance.

Visit our website: elogenh2.com

Media contact:
+33 (0)1 81 87 26 21
contact@elogenh2.com

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ABOUT UNIVERSITÉ PARIS-SACLAY

 

Université Paris-Saclay was born from the shared ambition of French universities, grandes écoles and national research organisations. As a leading university in Europe and the world, it covers the fields of science and engineering, life sciences and health, and humanities and social sciences. The university’s science policy closely intertwines research and innovation, incorporating both basic and applied science to tackle major societal challenges.

Université Paris-Saclay offers a varied range of undergraduate to doctorate level degrees, including programmes with its grandes écoles, all of which are focused on achieving student success and employability. The university prepares students for an ever-changing world where the ability to think critically, remain agile and renew one’s skills are crucial. Université Paris-Saclay also offers a comprehensive range of lifelong learning courses. Located to the south of Paris, the university extends across a vast and rich local area. Its location strengthens both its international visibility and its close ties with its socio-economic partners (major companies, SMEs, start-ups, local authorities, charities).

www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en

Press contact:
service.presse@universite-paris-saclay.fr

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ABOUT THE CNRS

The French National Center for Scientific Research is one of the most recognised and renowned public research institutions in the world. For more than 80 years, it has continued to attract talent at the highest level and to nurture multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary research projects at the national, European and international levels. Geared towards the public interest, it contributes to the scientific, economic, social and cultural progress of France. The CNRS is above all 33,000 women and men, more than 1,000 laboratories in partnership with universities and other higher education institutions bringing together more than 120,000 employees and 200 professions that advance knowledge by exploring the living world, matter, the Universe, and the functioning of human societies. The CNRS ensures that this mission is carried out in compliance with ethical rules and with a commitment to professional equality. The close relationship it establishes between its research missions and the transfer of acquired knowledge to the public makes it today a key player in innovation in France and around the world. Partnerships with companies are at the heart of its technology transfer policy, and the start-ups that have emerged from CNRS laboratories bear witness to the economic potential of its research. The CNRS provides also access to research findings and data, and this sharing of knowledge targets many audiences: scientific communities, the media, decision-makers, economic players and the general public.

For more information: www.cnrs.fr

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