The project SolviCore was established in March this year and consists of Belgian materials technology group Umicore and chemical and pharmaceutical group Solvay.

It plans to apply under the EU’s Seventh Framework programme, which priorities research fostering sustainable development and environmentally friendly transport.

Work on the project started this month. Electrocatalysts with polymer membranes will be used to develop and manufacture the Membrane Electrode Assembly.

This is the reactor where the hydrogen is catalytically transformed via chemical reaction with oxygen to produce electricity, heat and water.

A Solvay spokesperson told PRW that it was “premature” to say too much about the project as it was in its early stages.

But he added: “If the project does secure EU funding this would definitely be an incentive to carry out more research and would contribute to the success of the project.”

SolviCore is a 50-50 split, joint venture based in Hanau at Umicore’s main R&D facility in Germany currently employing 34 people.

Solvay and Umicore will continue their own development activities in catalysts and membranes which they will own in full outside of the SolviCore project.