ABB is a corporate member of the university-driven HYGCEL project where the carbon and hydrogen value chains required in green electrification are developed. The project’s goal is to respond to the global demand for fossil-free products based on climate change mitigation and rapid technological development.
Starting in November 2021 and coordinated by LUT University, the three-year HYGCEL project has received EUR 10 million in funding from Business Finland. The project will last for three years.
ABB participates in HYGCEL through its own business project focusing on the technology around green hydrogen. It supports ABB’s Green Electrification 2035 project, where Power-to-X is one of its focus areas.
“We’re studying the optimal solutions for the production of hydrogen by means of electrolysis, and will develop them into competitive products,” says Matti Kauhanen, Technology Manager at ABB.
ABB is one of the HYGCEL business consortium members seeking to develop carbon and hydrogen value chains as part of green electrification. The project is based on climate change mitigation. 
"We’re studying the optimal solutions for the production of hydrogen by means of electrolysis, and will develop them into competitive products,” says Matti Kauhanen, Technology Manager at ABB.
Looking for optimal solutions
Electrification, automation and energy efficiency are among ABB’s core competence areas – this future-driven project is based on solid expertise in these sectors. ABB has the platforms and technologies on which ecosystem partners can build Power-to-X solutions.
“We’re developing optimal power sources for various electrolytic cell types, allowing us to use ABB’s active rectifiers as power sources. With LUT University, we will study the technological limits each cell option has, compare them, and find the optimal solutions for different cell types,” Kauhanen says.
“Our other aim is to identify the kinds of business models and ecosystems that should be built around them. We will also pilot these different solutions in various industrial organizations,” he says.
Education is key
One of the key goals is to share skills, as well as to develop them: ABB wants the project’s results to be used in education as well.
“We want to build capabilities in the university sector for teaching about these results. In cooperation, we will build research equipment, the infrastructure, and ecosystems that provide the help and support required to ensure the high-quality engineering skills needed in green electrification,” says Kauhanen.
“To make green electrification a reality and a large-scale business, companies need to ensure Finland will have talented professionals in this sector in the future,” Kauhanen emphasizes.
Author: Laura Koskenrouta
