Launch of PROSPER-H2 a industrial research chair in the field of “solar fuels”

Paris, 28 June 2023 — ENGIE’s R&I department and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), in collaboration with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the Université Grenoble Alpes, are launching a joint research programme on solar fuels supported by a French National Research Agency (ANR) industrial research chair entitled “PROSPER-H2”. This chair is led by Vincent Artero and certified by the Axelera competitiveness cluster.

The production of solar fuels, including solar hydrogen, is one of the disruptive low-carbon technologies that could help accelerate the energy transition. However, photoelectrochemical devices, which capture solar energy directly and store it in the form of molecules, are still struggling to gain a foothold. The CRIGEN Lab, one of ENGIE Research and Innovation’s main laboratories, is currently working on several projects to scale up these technologies to an industrial level. The CEA is likewise developing technologies to produce synthetic and solar fuels as part of its “Hydrogen” and “Circular Carbon Economy” programmes.

The “PROSPER-H2” industrial research chair will hence combine the efforts of ENGIE’s R&I department, five CEA laboratories, including three joint research units with the CNRS and the universities of Grenoble-Alpes or Paris-Saclay, in Grenoble, Marcoule, Saclay and within the  French National Institute for Solar Energy institute (INES), as well as the PACTE laboratory in Grenoble. The CEA teams will contribute their expertise in materials chemistry, electrocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis to develop new and higher-performance materials. 

They will also use multi-physical and multi-scale modelling, chemical engineering and photonic engineering to bolster the CRIGEN Lab’s expertise in these technologies. The aim is to confirm the performance of optimized water photoelectrolysis prototypes for decentralized solar hydrogen production on the ENGIE and INES platforms within four years. In addition, with the involvement of the PACTE laboratory, the consortium will use life cycle analysis and technical-economic and socio-technical studies to focus on the CSR impacts of these technologies. 

"Solar hydrogen is a new component of the CEA’s low-carbon energy production system, supplementing its commitment to the energy transition. This industrial research chair utilises many areas of expertise in our laboratories and demonstrates the measures that the CEA is implementing to develop sustainable fuels, which are essential for achieving carbon neutrality.”

“Developing hydrogen production is part of ENGIE’s Net Zero Carbon strategy for 2045. This solar technology, which already features in the Emerging Sustainable Technologies report published by ENGIE in 2023, is a chance to step up the transition of the energy markets. Launching this research programme will help to remove the scientific, technological, economic and societal barriers associated with this emerging technology.” Laurent Baraton, Head of the Research Programme at ENGIE.

About CEA
The CEA informs public decision-making and provides concrete scientific and technological solutions to stakeholders (companies and local authorities) in areas crucial to society. These include the energy and digital transitions, health issues of the future, defence, and global security.  

The CEA is a French public research body listed among the world’s top 100 innovators (Clarivate 2022). Its acts as a catalyst and accelerator for innovation in support of French industry. It bolsters the competitiveness of companies in all sectors by creating efficient, differentiating products, and provides innovative solutions to inform the changes in our society. The CEA extends this approach to all regions of France by supporting the innovations of its local partners. It  thus contributes to creating lasting value and jobs in the regions, working as closely as possible to industrial needs on the ground. At the same time, it is supporting the development of 215 start-ups: agile vectors for transferring know-how and disruptive technologies developed in the lab.  www.cea.fr

About ENGIE
The ENGIE group is a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. With its 96,000 employees, customers, partners and stakeholders, the Group makes a daily undertaking to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral world, with a range of more energy-efficient and environment-friendly solutions. ENGIE’s core purpose combines economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet. Its key business lines (gas, renewable energies, services) are the backbone of the competitive solutions that it offers to its customers. Turnover in 2022 was €93.9 billion. The Group is listed on the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges (ENGI) and is represented in the main financial indices (CAC 40, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop MSCI Europe) and extra-financial indices (DJSI World, Euronext Vigeo Eiris - Europe 120 / France 20, MSCI EMU ESG screened, MSCI EUROPE ESG Universal Select, Stoxx Europe 600 ESG-X).