Fraunhofer Institutes and SGC Energy Sign Partnership to Advance CO₂ Technologies, Hydrogen and Battery Innovation
Memorandum of Understanding focuses on CO₂ electrolysis, hydrogen technologies, fuel cells and battery systems to support future energy conversion and storage solutions.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT, and South Korean company SGC Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop technologies for energy conversion and energy storage. Announced on August 20, 2026, the collaboration will focus on CO₂ electrolysis, hydrogen technologies, fuel cells and battery technologies.
Fraunhofer Institutes and SGC Energy Launch Collaboration on Energy Technologies
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT, and SGC Energy have entered into a new partnership aimed at advancing technologies related to carbon dioxide utilization, hydrogen production and energy storage.
The collaboration brings together research and industrial expertise to support the development of CO₂ electrolysis, hydrogen technologies, fuel cells and battery technologies. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the partners will prepare and implement joint research and development projects.
The initiative focuses on developing technologies that use carbon dioxide as a feedstock, improve renewable energy storage and reduce dependence on fossil fuels in industrial processes.
Professor Alexander Böker, Director of Fraunhofer IAP, said:
“With this cooperation, we are creating a framework in which material development, system integration, and practical application are considered together from the outset. Whether in CO₂ electrolysis, hydrogen, fuel cells, or batteries, a climate-neutral industry requires high-performance materials, robust components, and partners who consistently drive research toward practical application.”
Focus on CO₂ Electrolysis and Sustainable Aviation Fuel
A major area of cooperation is the electrochemical conversion of CO₂, where carbon dioxide is transformed into feedstocks for chemical products or synthetic fuels using electrical energy.
According to the announcement, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) represent one of the key application areas for this technology.
In South Korea, CO₂ electrolysis is viewed as an important pathway for SAF production and supports the country's national decarbonization strategy. SGC Energy plans to combine its carbon capture facilities with technologies developed by Fraunhofer IAP and Fraunhofer UMSICHT to support industrial deployment and commercialization in South Korea.
The partners said this approach could increase the use of CO₂ within industrial value chains while gradually reducing dependence on fossil feedstocks.
Development of High-Performance Membranes
The collaboration also includes work on high-performance membranes designed for electrochemical systems.
Membranes play an important role by separating substances, enabling ion transport and influencing the efficiency, selectivity and operating life of electrochemical processes. While hydrogen electrolysis already uses established membrane technologies, further development is required for CO₂ electrolysis.
Fraunhofer IAP will contribute expertise in developing polymeric energy materials, including PFAS-free high-performance membranes for electrolyzers, as well as polymer solid electrolytes and binders for batteries.
The institute stated that PFAS-free membranes may also provide advantages in view of upcoming regulatory requirements concerning PFAS chemicals. The objective is to improve the efficiency, durability and performance of electrochemical systems through optimized material and membrane design.
Combining Materials, Systems and Industrial Applications
Fraunhofer UMSICHT will contribute expertise in developing cost-competitive CO₂ electrolysis cells and innovative stack concepts. Its work includes the design, scale-up and testing of electrochemical systems under industry-relevant conditions, along with integrating CO₂ electrolysis into existing industrial infrastructure.
Professor Christian Doetsch, Director of Fraunhofer UMSICHT, said:
“The transformation of industrial energy systems can only succeed when new materials, electrochemical processes, and scalable plant concepts work hand in hand. Through this partnership, we are combining our process and system expertise with advanced materials research and industrial requirements.”
SGC Energy will provide industrial experience, engineering expertise, market requirements, and access to CO₂ and power resources to support commercialization.
Ken Yoon, Chief Strategy Officer of SGC Energy, said:
“For us, this partnership is an important strategic step toward actively shaping the future technologies needed for a climate-neutral industry. Our collaboration with Fraunhofer IAP and Fraunhofer UMSICHT allows us to access outstanding research in the fields of CO₂ utilization, hydrogen, fuel cells, and batteries.”
Joint Research Projects Planned
Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, the three organisations will define joint research and development initiatives over the coming months.
The planned projects will focus on advancing technologies related to CO₂ utilization, hydrogen applications, battery systems and fuel cell systems.