Utrecht University Hydrogen Initiative

Hydrogen Lab

The Hydrogen Lab aims to produce and use green hydrogen in a well-controlled environment, providing facilities to test and analyze the electrochemical performance of fuel cell and electrolyzer stacks. The Hydrogen Lab is based at Geolab, the state-of-the-art laboratory facility of Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences.

Activities:

  • Performance Testing: Test electrochemical performance of fuel cell and electrolyzer stacks up to a maximum capacity of 10kW. The performance tests are conducted at the system level, integrating the stack with all balance of plant components to ensure standalone and reliable operation.
  • Long-term Analysis: Conduct long-term performance analysis, including ramp-up, ramp-down, degradation measures, and mitigation strategies to prolong system lifespan.
  • Accelerated Testing: Test fuel cell and electrolyzer systems under accelerated conditions to analyze performance in harsh environments and develop health monitoring systems.
  • Real-life Simulation: Developing strategies for running systems in real-life conditions based on performance data from accelerated tests.

Facilities:

  • Power Supply and Control Unit
  • Steam Generators
  • Air Conditioning/Treatment Units
  • Cooling Units
  • Sensors and Measurement Instruments
  • Offgas Treatment Unit
  • Gas Analyzer
  • Water Purification System