Hycco Joins AIM-PLATES to Scale Composite Bipolar Plates for PEM Fuel Cells

Updated on June 15, 2026 • 3 min read

Hycco is taking part in AIM-PLATES, a Horizon Europe project designed to accelerate the industrial deployment of proton exchange membrane fuel cells in Europe.

The project focuses on one of the most critical fuel cell components: bipolar plates.

Why bipolar plates matter

Bipolar plates can account for up to:

• 80% of fuel cell stack weight
• 40% of total fuel cell cost

They are responsible for electrical conduction, gas distribution, water management and mechanical support inside the stack.

Europe currently relies heavily on imported metallic and graphite bipolar plate solutions, creating supply chain and cost dependency.

AIM-PLATES project focus

The 16-partner consortium aims to make bipolar plates industrial by design through:

• ultra-thin composite architectures
• cost-efficient circular materials
• digitally controlled manufacturing
• first-time-right production processes
• durability aligned with certification standards

The project will include two real-world demonstrations:

• aviation HT-PEM fuel cells
• automotive LT-PEM fuel cells

Toward industrial scale-up

AIM-PLATES aims to build a TRL 7 pilot line, validate manufacturability and reduce the risk of large-scale production.

By 2030, the project also targets lower CO₂ emissions per plate, reduced dependence on imported components and replication across fuel cells, electrolyzers and other net-zero technologies.

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Editorial Perspective

This project is important because fuel cell commercialization depends not only on performance, but also on manufacturability.

Composite bipolar plates could reduce weight, improve scalability and support European supply chain sovereignty.

For Hycco, AIM-PLATES marks a transition from validated technology to industrial-grade production. That shift—from proving a component works to proving it can be manufactured consistently at volume—is where many hydrogen technologies will either scale or stall.