PEPPER

PEPPER pioneers the development of planar proton-conducting ceramic electrolysis cells (PCCELs), a next-generation electrolysis technology operating at intermediate temperatures (400°C–600°C). This temperature range enables high energy efficiency and integration with industrial waste heat, making it ideal for decarbonizing energy-intensive sectors such as steel, chemicals, and refining.

Historically, PCCELs have been built using tubular geometries, which, although robust, suffer from scalability, limited current density, and complex manufacturing. PEPPER replaces tubular designs with planar architectures, unlocking multiple benefits:

• Larger active areas (~100 cm²) for industrial relevance.
• Higher current densities (>0.75 A/cm² at 600°C).
• Compact and stackable reactor designs, reducing footprint and cost.
• Fewer repeating units per stack, minimizing materials and assembly complexity.

This shift dramatically improves the feasibility of scaling up for commercial deployment.

The PEPPER project is not just improving electrolysis, it’s redefining it. By combining:

• High energy efficiency (up to 20% less electricity use)
• Smart waste heat integration
• Cleaner material sourcing
• A pathway to industrial upscaling,

PEPPER is positioning planar PCCEL technology as a pillar of Europe’s future hydrogen economy, one that is more efficient, sustainable, and tailored to the needs of heavy industry.

• Definition of test protocol for the electrochemical characterization of PEPPER cells / stacks 

• Electrochemical and post-mortem microstructural characterization of innovative electrochemical protonic ceramic cells for hydrogen production: investigation of various operation conditions (gas flow, temperature, reduction process, steam conversion).

• Long-term stability testing (>1000h) of advanced PEPPER cells. 

• Life Cycle Assessment of the PEPPER technology.  

Dr. Julian Dailly Julian.dailly@eifer.org