Fuel cells & Hydrogen

Hydrogen is emerging as a key green energy vector, playing a vital role in sector coupling by connecting power, transport, and industry to reduce carbon emissions. It serves as a clean fuel in fuel cells, which convert hydrogen into electricity with water as the only byproduct, offering an efficient and sustainable energy solution. Integrating hydrogen technologies into energy systems supports decarbonization of various sectors and enhances the flexibility and resilience of renewable energy grids.

At the Laboratory for Heat and Power, we are investigating integration of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies (FCH) into conventional energy systems or in combination with renewable energy sources. We can design, dimension and evaluate such systems in terms of performance, efficiency, and techno-economic viability. We also have experimental test setups where we conduct experimental research on PEM fuel cells.

Our team specializes in:

• Integration of fuel cells & hydrogen technologies

- fuel cells, electrolyzers, hydrogen carriers (methanol, ammonia, natural gas) & supply chains,

- numerical modeling of hydrogen energy systems

- participating in EU-funded hydrogen research projects (currently 6 ongoing projects)

• Experimental research of PEM fuel cells

- use of in-house made test bench and commercial Greenlight test station

- single cell testing on 25 cm2 and 50 cm2 active area

- capability of testing LT and HT PEM fuel cells at various conditions (humidity, temperature, pressure, stoichiometry, anode/cathode gas compositions)

- use of various evaluation methodologies (i.e., surface distribution of temperature and current density, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, etc.)

Selected publications:

1. Green energy hubs for the military that can also support the civilian mobility sector with green hydrogen 

Mori M., Žvar Baškovič U., Stropnik R., Lotrič A., Katrašnik T., Šipec R., Lipar J., Lesar Ž., Drobnič B.  International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2023)

1. Design and testing of a water-methanol evaporator for integration in a methanol steam reforming-high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell system

Todorovski E., Sekavčnik M., Mori M., Lotrič A.  9th International Youth Conference on Energy (2024) 

1. Effects of impurities on pre-doped and post-doped membranes for high temperature PEM fuel cell stacks 

Araya S. S., Thomas S., Lotrič A., Sahlin S. L., Liso V., Andreasen S. J. Energies (2021) 

1. Conceptual design of an integrated thermally self-sustained methanol steam reformer – High-temperature PEM fuel cell stack manportable power generator

Lotrič A., Sekavčnik M., Pohar A., Likozar B., Hočevar S. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2017) 

1. Effectiveness of heat-integrated methanol steam reformer and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack systems for portable applications.

Lotrič A., Sekavčnik M., Hočevar S. Journal of Power Sources (2014) 

dr. Andrej Lotrič (andrej.lotric@fs.uni-lj.si, personal page)