During its first year of implementation, the STELAH project has delivered significant strategic progress in the development of next-generation alkaline electrolysis technologies for renewable hydrogen production.
Led by Tecnicas Reunidas alongside Matteco, the Technological Institute for Children’s Products and Leisure (AIJU), and the University of Valencia, the consortium has advanced new catalysts, electrodes, and stack configurations designed to improve efficiency and performance.
Through this work, the project is laying the groundwork for more robust and cost-effective electrolyzers capable of meeting industrial demands. By accelerating the transition from laboratory validation to market-ready solutions, the consortium aims to strengthen green hydrogen’s position as a sustainable and competitive energy carrier, supporting broader decarbonization efforts across industry and long-distance transport.
Advancing next-gen alkaline electrolysis
The project is advancing the development and validation of high-performance electrodes for alkaline electrolysis, covering both anode and cathode components, as well as optimized stack designs. These innovations are engineered to deliver higher efficiency and overall performance compared with existing commercial alkaline electrolysis technologies.
In particular, Matteco has developed advanced catalytic material combinations for both anode and cathode compositions, which have been thoroughly characterized and validated by the University of Valencia. The results demonstrate strong potential for improved durability, performance, and scalability, supporting the transition toward next-generation electrolyzers suitable for industrial deployment.
Instead of relying on scarce and critical materials such as platinum derivatives, the newly developed formulations use more accessible alternatives while delivering higher electrochemical activity and improved stability. These characteristics are essential for reliable, continuous operation in industrial electrolysis environments, and the materials have already been scaled to the sizes targeted in this project phase.
In parallel, teams from Tecnicas Reunidas and AIJU tested the electrodes on different substrates within a preliminary stack configuration. The results were positive, confirming that the new material combinations perform well under representative operating conditions and can be scaled for further development.
Next phase targets full-size electrolyzer prototypes
Building on these outcomes, the project now moves to its next phase: integrating the optimized materials into full cell prototypes and modular stacks at the final target size, bringing the technology closer to industrial application.
The project is supported by public funding aimed at strengthening the hydrogen economy and energy sovereignty. It is financed by the Valencian Innovation Agency and the EU through the FEDER program, with total backing of approximately $1 million.
By bringing together complementary expertise in advanced materials science, electrochemical engineering, and modular system design, the four partners are building a technology platform designed for industrial-scale deployment. This integrated approach supports the development of efficient, scalable electrolyzer solutions while accelerating the transition from research to real-world applications.
The initiative adds that the progress achieved through the project reinforces the Valencian Community’s role as a growing center of excellence for hydrogen technologies and contributes to strengthening Spain’s position in the European hydrogen value chain. At the same time, the initiative aligns closely with the European Hydrogen Strategy, supporting the region’s objectives for large-scale electrolysis deployment and renewable hydrogen production by 2030.
