The project ran between May 2023 and December 2025.
BioBPP 2 created and tested a fully circular process for making cost efficient bipolar plates (BPPs) from renewable carbon/polymer composites. Bipolar plates are key parts of fuel cell devices that turn hydrogen into clean electricity. The project focused on PEM fuel cells (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells), a common type used in cars, trucks, and stationary power systems.
The project brought together 10 partners, including RISE and nine Swedish and international high tech companies.
Together, they:
• developed and improved bio based composite materials (materials made from renewable carbon and polymers),
• designed and built a compression molding tool that forms the plates into their final shape,
• manufactured full scale bio based bipolar plates using advanced molding techniques,
• and tested these plates in a small fuel cell stack (a stack is several fuel cells placed together to produce more power), which was also designed within the project.
The environmental impact of the materials and processes was evaluated using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The team also carried out recycling trials, including microwave pyrolysis, a method that breaks down materials using high energy microwaves. These tests successfully recovered graphite, biocarbon, and other carbon fillers from the used materials.
Overall, the project strengthened both Sweden’s and Europe’s ability to develop sustainable composite materials for Net Zero energy technologies.
Participants
EnviGas AB, Harriet Lidhs Tooling AB, Percyroc AB, POLYNT S.P.A., SSAC Scandinavian Scalable Advanced Composites AB, Talga Technologies Limited, TransFurans Chemicals, Trelleborg Ersmark AB, Volvo Technology AB and RISE.
Budget
The project’s total budget was 8,5 MSEK.
Read about Biocarbon-based renewable bipolar plates for sustainable fuel cell technology (BioBPP) – step 1.