At Hydrogen Technology World Expo in Hamburg (20–22 October 2026), an integrated seven-functional-component solution designed to drastically reduce iridium usage and simplify system integration for stack manufacturers.
UFI Hydrogen, the Italian company within the UFI Group specializing in Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) technologies, is unveiling NEXT GEN at Hydrogen Technology World Expo, its new generation of PEM electrolyzer MEAs. The platform integrates seven functional components into a single assembly, with a twofold objective: significantly reducing the use of iridium, a critical material for PEM electrolysis, and simplifying design, sourcing, and integration processes for stack manufacturers.
From Three to Seven Layers: More Integration, Less Complexity
In the conventional architecture, a three-component MEA represents only part of the system required for a stack. Additional functional elements must be sourced, integrated, and qualified separately by the manufacturer. With NEXT GEN, UFI Hydrogen expands the scope of its solution to seven integrated components, engineered to operate as a single assembly.
The benefits extend well beyond physical integration: fewer supplier interfaces, a simplified procurement process, and greater consistency across the design, testing, and qualification of all components included in the package. UFI Hydrogen thus becomes the single technology partner for this strategic part of the stack, helping reduce complexity and integration risks.
Reducing Iridium: A Priority for PEM Scalability
Iridium is one of the most critical materials for the industrial growth of PEM electrolysis due to both its cost and limited availability. NEXT GEN has been designed to significantly reduce iridium consumption through advancements in MEA architecture, functional components, and catalyst configuration. Quantitative parameters and detailed technical solutions remain part of UFI Hydrogen’s proprietary know-how.
From Component Supply to Co-Design with Electrolyzer Manufacturers
The new platform can be developed together with customers according to their stack architecture requirements, including geometries and dimensions, membrane characteristics, component configurations, catalysts, and functional interfaces. In this way, UFI Hydrogen strengthens its role as a co-design partner, supporting electrolyzer manufacturers in the development and qualification of customized solutions.
Industrial Roadmap
NEXT GEN is currently in the industrial scale-up phase and is intended for testing, validation, and integration activities with electrolyzer manufacturers. Start of series production is planned for 2027. The existing three-component MEA generation, already in production, will continue to be available to support different stack architectures and procurement strategies.
“The MEA is the chip of electrochemistry: it is where a decisive share of an electrolyzer’s performance and competitiveness is determined. With NEXT GEN, we move beyond supplying a single component and offer an integrated seven-layer architecture designed to reduce iridium usage and simplify the work of stack manufacturers. Our goal is to be their co-design partner, reducing technological interfaces and the risks associated with industrial integration.”
Marco Lazzaroni, CEO of UFI Hydrogen
Comments are closed.
