About UPeM
PFAS containing materials are essential for PEM fuel cells (PEMFC) and PEM water electrolysers (PEMWE), but a lack of knowledge exists regarding PFAS emissions from these technologies. Additionally, standard approaches to monitor PFAS emission in the various in- and outstreams (liquid, gas, aerosol) need to be developed to create a clear picture. UPeM aims to bridge this gap by developing harmonised protocols for sampling and analysis of PFAS for both PEMFC and PEMWE. The UPeM consortium brings together knowledge from the PEMFC and PEMWE industry, industry suppliers, and R&D partners to understand where, how, and how much PFAS is released during operation of PEMFC and PEMWE systems. Additionally, UPeM will determine the sources of PFAS emission and key factors leading to material degradation and PFAS release. Based on the project findings, UPeM will provide recommendations on how to minimise material decomposition and PFAS release as well as suitable mitigation measures for PFAS emissions that cannot be avoided.
Objectives
Set up harmonised protocols for sampling and analysis of PFAS released from PEMFC and PEMWE systems.
Understanding the PFAS release root causes.
Validation of PFAS measurement protocol under industrial conditions and use cases.
Provide UPeM recommendations on reducing PFAS release for (future) WE and FC systems (incl. LCA).
Concept and Approach
The project will develop new sampling and analysis protocols for quantitative and qualitative measurement of PFAS emission in the different in- and out-streams. These tools and protocols are refined through an iterative process until the required accuracy is reached. Once these protocols meet the required specifications, they will be applied at industrial PEMFC and PEMWE settings at the project’s industrial partners for validation and to determine the root causes for PFAS emission. Feedback from the industrial tests will be used for further refining of the sampling and analysis protocols. The project will use the combined findings on PFAS emissions and root causes to develop recommendations for policy and industry on how to minimise PFAS release during PEMFC and PEMWE operation, improved PFAS recycling and improved membrane materials.
Results
UPeM will provide the following results:
Validated standard analytical methods incl. sampling and SOPs for PEMFC and PEMWE in operation.
Quantification of the PFAS release in different streams (liquid, gas and aerosol) for PEMWE and PEMFC in operation.
Understanding of PFAS release root causes via both analysis methods as well as dedicated microscopic analysis of membranes.
Recommendations to policy makers, FC & WE system OEMs and their suppliers, to reduce PFAS release quantities, this includes optimisation of operational strategies to reduce PFAS release.
Communications to the public to keep positive public perception of WE/FC.
Facts and figures
Acronym: UPeM
Duration: 30 months
Start date: 01-03-2026
Total budget: € 1.999.930,02
EU Funding: € 1.999.930,02
Publications
UPeM will disseminate project results to peers in the field of PFAS emission, PEMFC and PEMWE through open-access scientific publications. You can find links to the project publications on this page.
