Launch of the CEN Workshop 'Electrochemical characterisation at laboratory scale of non-noble porous metal-based electrodes for hydrogen generation in acidic medium'

Continued reliance on platinum-group metals in hydrogen production technologies, especially water electrolysis, creates economic and sustainability challenges as these metals are costly and in limited supply. As a response, research is being focussed on developing non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts.

However, this area of innovation is not yet standardized at laboratory scale. This lack of harmonization has led to inconsistencies in reported performance data, making it difficult to compare materials, validate experimental results, and accelerate innovation. It is the intended outcome of this Workshop to provide an essential tool to support research, innovation, and regulatory compliance in the evolving European hydrogen economy.

The objective of this Workshop is to develop a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) that provides recommendations for the electrochemical testing of non-noble, porous metal-based electrodes for HER in acidic media. The CWA will define standardized experimental procedures, ensuring reproducibility and comparability of results across research groups and industries. It will also provide guidance on:

• The construction and setup of an appropriate electrochemical cell,
• The standardized electrochemical techniques for evaluating catalytic activity and durability,
• The key operating parameters and control strategies to be followed during testing,
• Guidelines for data collection, interpretation, and reporting to facilitate consistency in characterization.

The CWA will not cover testing protocols for complete electrolyzer systems or commercial-scale applications, as existing European and international harmonized protocols already define such methodologies. Instead, it will focus on laboratory-scale characterization, bridging the gap between fundamental research and industrial-scale implementation.

The kick-off meeting for the Workshop will be an online meeting and is planned to take place via Microsoft Teams on 18th June 2025 from 9.00 am to 13.00 pm (CEST). To attend, please use this link.

All interested parties are invited to submit comments on the draft Project Plan using the commenting form below, to the Workshop Secretary, Esther Bermejo Núñez (ebermejo@une.org), by May 14th, 2025.

Download the documents:

• Workshop description and draft Project Plan
• Agenda of the Kick-off Meeting
• Registration form
• Commenting form