AIM-PLATES: Sustainable composite bipolar plate manufacturing

RISE Research Institutes of Sweden is coordinating AIM-PLATES, a new Horizon Europe project bringing together 15 partners from across Europe to advance robust and scalable manufacturing of sustainable composite bipolar plates.

Composite bipolar plates are key components of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Their performance, manufacturability and cost are essential for enabling lighter, more efficient and more competitive fuel cell systems. Today, large-scale deployment is still constrained by supply-chain dependencies and manufacturing limitations affecting these critical components.

AIM-PLATES will combine advanced composite materials, digitalised manufacturing, quality-control technologies and Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design principles to develop robust and more controlled manufacturing routes. 

The project will validate the targeted manufacturing innovations through two complementary pilot lines:

✈️ Lightweight thermoplastic-based composite bipolar plates for weight-sensitive applications, including aviation

🚚 Cost-effective and robust thermoset-based composite bipolar plates for light commercial vehicles and other market segments

As project coordinator, RISEwill lead the European consortium and contribute expertise in composite materials, advanced manufacturing, process simulation and sustainability. 

Over the next four years, AIM-PLATES will work towards a Made-in-Europe pathway for scalable manufacturing of advanced composite bipolar plates, strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy and supporting the future deployment of hydrogen fuel cell technologies.

🔗 Discover AIM-PLATES: https://aimplates.eu/ 

🔗 Follow the project on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aim-plates/posts/?feedView=all