Bekaert, a global market and technology leader in advanced materials and engineering solutions, today announces its Currento® Microporous Layer (MPL). The Currento® MPL is an additional engineered layer on top of the Porous Transport Layer (PTL) substrate and is designed to help PEM electrolyzer OEMs reduce the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) while accelerating industrial deployment.
With this innovation, Bekaert helps customers accelerate the transition toward cost-effective green hydrogen production. By improving material efficiency and enabling higher-performing electrolyzer systems, the technology supports greater scalability and more accessible hydrogen; an important step toward decarbonizing the industry and advancing the global energy transition.
Engineered for the next generation of PEM electrolyzers
As PEM electrolyzer designs evolve toward more demanding operating conditions, interface control becomes increasingly important. The new Microporous Layer (MPL) technology enhances the critical interface inside the electrolyzer cell, enabling manufacturers to adopt advanced stack designs that require thinner membranes, lower iridium loading, and higher operating current densities. These advancements can contribute to more compact, efficient electrolyzer systems while helping reduce dependence on scarce and costly raw materials.
By improving support for ultra-thin membranes and creating a more uniform contact between cell components, the MPL helps increase operational stability and reliability under demanding conditions. This supports the performance while providing manufacturers with a more consistent pathway to qualification and large-scale deployment.
“With our Currento® MPL, we are enabling the next step in PEM electrolyzer development,” said Edouard d’Autume, VP Fiber & Hydrogen Technologies. “Building on Bekaert’s proven PTL technology, we add a functional microporous layer that enhances interface control. This helps customers advance next-generation stack designs with confidence in durability, manufacturability and supply reliability.”
Engineered for industrial deployment
Bekaert designed Currento® MPL for industrial production from the outset. Leveraging decades of expertise in metal fiber technology and controlled manufacturing processes, the solution delivers repeatable microstructure and consistent batch-to-batch quality to support OEM ramp-up and global deployment.