Recently, Dr. Lesia Sandig-Predzymirska presented the outcomes of the Recycalyse project at the 75th BHT – Universitätsforum held at TU Bergakademie Freiberg. The presentation took place during the FK6 session on “Circular Economy in Freiberg,” organized by the Freiberg Center for Circular Economy. Her talk, titled “Circularity of Critical Raw Materials in PEM Water Electrolyzers,” addressed the critical issue of material sustainability and the recycling of end-of-life materials, aligning with the EU’s environmental goals.

Dr. Sandig-Predzymirska highlighted that the Recycalyse project has reached its final stage. Despite this, the results open the door to numerous collaboration opportunities in various research directions. The project’s achievements contribute significantly to the recyclability of PEM materials, essential for promoting a hydrogen-based economy. The project’s focus on developing and manufacturing highly active sustainable oxygen evolution catalysts and implementing a recycling scheme for membrane electrolyzers is poised to disrupt the energy storage market.

The Recycalyse project aims to reduce or eliminate the use of critical raw materials, thereby decreasing CO2 emissions and reducing costs. By developing sustainable catalysts and establishing a recycling scheme for proton exchange membrane electrolyzer components, the project helps reduce Europe’s dependence on material imports and supports a fully circular economy. The innovative technology promises a significant impact on energy storage and sustainability, paving the way for a greener future.