UPeM kicks off: Understanding PFAS emissions from PEM technologies

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and water electrolyzers are key technologies for the production and use of hydrogen. As their industrial deployment increases, understanding their environmental performance alongside efficiency, durability, cost, and scalability is becoming increasingly important.

The recently launched UPeM research project addresses one specific aspect of this challenge: understanding the potential release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from PEM fuel cells (PEMFC) and PEM water electrolyzers (PEMWE).

UPeM started on March 1, 2026, and will run for 30 months. The project is supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and co-funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 101250924, with approximately €2.0 million in EU funding.

What will UPeM investigate?

PFAS-containing materials are currently used in most PEM fuel cell and PEM water electrolyzer systems. However, there is still limited quantitative knowledge about whether, where, and under which operating and degradation conditions PFAS compounds may be released from these technologies. Standardized approaches for sampling and analyzing PFAS in the different process streams are also still required.

• UPeM aims to close these knowledge gaps by:
  developing harmonized sampling and analytical protocols for PFAS emissions from PEMFC and PEMWE systems;
• quantifying potential PFAS release through liquid, gas, and aerosol streams;
• dentifying the root causes and mechanisms linking material degradation and PFAS release;
• validating measurement methodologies under industrial operating conditions and representative use cases; and
• developing recommendations for industry and policymakers to minimize material decomposition and PFAS release and to mitigate releases that cannot be avoided.

The investigations combine analytical chemistry with electrochemical testing and advanced material diagnostics. This includes testing under representative operating conditions, accelerated stress testing, investigation of the relationship between accelerated aging and real-world operation, and microscopic and chemical characterization of membrane materials.

By connecting PFAS measurements with operating conditions and material degradation, UPeM aims to establish an evidence-based understanding of potential PFAS emission sources and release pathways throughout the use phase of PEM technologies.

UPeM officially gets underway

The consortium held its first General Assembly on April 28 and 29, 2026, at the research facilities of project coordinator CEA in Grenoble, France.

During the two-day kick-off meeting, the partners aligned on the technical activities and organization of the project and initiated the first exchange of data and samples for the identification of PFAS emissions from PEM fuel cells and water electrolyzers.

The program also included a tour of CEA’s research facilities and the consortium’s first project-wide decision: selecting the official UPeM project logo.

What is FEV contributing?

Within UPeM, FEV supports the link between analytical research and the behavior of real electrochemical systems.

FEV contributes its expertise in PEM fuel cell and water electrolyzer testing, degradation analysis, and system-level validation to support the investigation of PFAS release under technically relevant operating conditions.

The activities include contributions to the investigation of PFAS release mechanisms, the validation of sampling and analytical approaches, testing protocols and accelerated stress testing, as well as the interpretation of PFAS measurements in relation to electrochemical performance and material degradation.

This system-level perspective is intended to help translate analytical findings into an understanding of how operating conditions, aging mechanisms, and system behavior may influence PFAS release. The resulting knowledge will contribute to recommendations for reducing potential emissions and improving the environmental performance of future PEM fuel cell and electrolyzer systems.

Building an evidence base for sustainable PEM technologies

UPeM addresses an important knowledge gap at the intersection of hydrogen technology, material degradation, and environmental impact.

By developing harmonized measurement approaches and applying them from material-level investigations through to industrial PEM systems, the project aims to establish a robust quantitative basis for assessing PFAS emissions and identifying appropriate reduction and mitigation strategies.

Explore the UPeM project website to learn more about the research activities, project partners, and future results:

UPeM project website