Explaining what we do is not always easy, especially when we’re talking to someone who isn’t familiar with the world of scientific research. It makes perfect sense if you think about it: science works through hypotheses, methodologies and experiments that only we, the researchers, fully understand. And that’s without even mentioning how fragmented our knowledge can be! Every researcher has a very specific field of expertise: for instance, a biologist doesn’t study “life” in general, but focuses on expanding our understanding of one small aspect of it – for example, the behaviour of a single bacterium.
Everybody else usually learn about scientific progress only through news stories about major discoveries or super successful experiments. You might recognise these headlines: “A promising new treatment for breast cancer is now on the market”; “A new study confirms that walking delays Parkinson’s symptoms”; “The James Webb telescope reveals the most spectacular images of our Universe”.
However, we rarely talk about all the steps we need to take before reaching an important answer. Science is far from linear, and the work of a scientist requires perseverance and creativity, since very often we do not find exactly what we were looking for.
A positive perception of science
The latest Eurobarometer survey on “European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology” revealed that 83% of Europeans believe the overall influence of science and technology is positive. In addition, two-thirds (67%) agree that science and technology make our lives easier, healthier and more comfortable.
That said, there are still reservations and a degree of scepticism – particularly when it comes to certain emerging technologies. Social and political polarisation also affects the way science is perceived.
At ASTERISK, we believe that trust is earned through transparency – by making our knowledge accessible and giving people the tools they need to think out of the box. That’s why, in this blog post, we want to show you how our project actually works from the inside. We won’t be talking about surprising results or grand ambitions, but rather presenting a detailed plan of what we aim to achieve and how we intend to do it.
European projects are challenging: we collaborate over relatively long periods (normally around three to four years). For us, having a well-organised structure is essential. However, we don’t divide our work in the conventional way. Instead of assigning specific tasks to each partner, we organise our efforts into work packages (WPs). Each WP is coordinated by one leading institution, but all work is carried out collaboratively. The work packages are not isolated either – we are all interdependent, constantly discussing the challenges we face.
We know that, no matter how skilled we are individually, we can only go far if we work together.
ASTERISK is a project that aims to produce green hydrogen using seawater. To achieve this, we have divided our work into nine different work packages:
WP1: Operating conditions
In this work package, our partners will collect real seawater samples from the Mediterranean Sea to carry out a full compositional analysis, focusing on the identification of biological residues, inorganic matter and suspended particles such as microplastics.
Researchers will also measure seawater properties such as temperature and pH. Understanding the physical and chemical characteristics of the sea – as well as the compounds and particles found in it – will be a key aspect of ASTERISK, since these parameters can influence the performance of the electrolyser.
This WP will also include simulations of the most effective techniques for removing these contaminants from seawater in order to minimise the project’s energy consumption.
WP2: Catalysts and membranes
This work package focuses on designing some crucial components of an electrolyser: the catalysts and a semi-permeable membrane.
Catalysts are chemical substances that accelerate reactions, which would otherwise occur very slowly. Traditionally, electrolysers rely on expensive and scarce catalytic materials such as platinum; however, ASTERISK aims to replace these with more abundant alternatives. Our researchers will use simulation tools to study which chemical and physical properties enhance catalyst performance, helping identify the most efficient materials.
Membranes, on the other hand, are materials that allow the selective passage of ions (electrically charged particles). In an electrolyser, semi-permeable membranes separate oxygen from hydrogen. In this WP, we will develop anion exchange membranes (AEMs), which will also avoid the use of toxic fluorinated “forever chemicals”.
Later, we will integrate all components into an electrochemical cell, to evaluate and monitor its performance over time.
WP3: Stack development
The membranes and catalysts developed in WP2 will be incorporated into an electrochemical cell, this time using water samples that closely resemble real seawater.
In this work package, we will evaluate the system’s capacity, performance and degradation in relation to the materials used, producing small-scale samples. We will also study the durability of all components once integrated into the electrolyser.
Building on the findings from WP1, this work package will determine the residual concentration of contaminants (biological residues, organic matter, suspended solids) likely to remain after seawater filtration, and will define the maximum thresholds to ensure the electrolyser will work.
Finally, we will select the most suitable materials for the components, and design a more robust stack.
WP4: Scalability of components
Scaling up all materials needed to produce green hydrogen is a major technological challenge, as it is crucial to control and minimise potential failures when working with larger volumes.
This work package will develop and test commercial-scale prototypes capable of matching or exceeding the activity and stability of the smaller samples produced in WP2. The ultimate goal is to manufacture a 5 kilowatt-capacity stack.
WP5: Brine valorisation
This work package focuses on several phases of seawater treatment. First, we will develop new membranes to filter contaminants (biological residues, inorganic particles, suspended solids) efficiently and simply. Our researchers will also test membrane lifetime and develop different cleaning strategies to prevent fouling from reducing filtration capacity.
The goal of this first phase is to make electrolysis more efficient, avoiding damage to the equipment or blockages during operation.
At the same time, at ASTERISK we seek to revalorise certain seawater components that are valuable to industry, such as calcium and magnesium. To this end, we will develop membranes capable of filtering, extracting and recovering these salts using membrane crystallisers. We will first test these models with synthetic brines to assess the economic feasibility and energetic cost of the technique.
WP6: Integration and validation
Once we’re ready, we will fabricate all of the components designed in WP3 and assemble them into a ten-cell, 5 kilowatt seawater stack. After that, our researchers will carry out durability tests, conducted under realistic conditions, using high-pressure vessels and treated seawater in an alkaline oxidative environment.
We will test this system for a total of 500 hours, studying parameters such as conductivity and resistance to seawater-induced corrosion.
Finally, this WP will integrate the seawater pre-treatment, filtration and brine recovery processes under real-world conditions. Researchers will also evaluate the purity and degradation of the hydrogen obtained after electrolysis.
WP7: Sustainability impacts
This work package focuses on a crucial aspect of any innovative technology: life-cycle assessment (LCA), which evaluates the environmental impact of a device from “cradle to grave”. The analysis will not only consider the device’s components but also the associated processes, such as seawater pre-filtration and salt recovery.
Researchers will also assess different end-of-life scenarios for the ASTERISK device, studying the recyclability of all the materials used. Finally, the sustainability team will compare the environmental footprint of our electrolyser to more conventional, commercially available technologies.
WP8: Communication and dissemination
Communication is a key element of any project of this nature. ASTERISK therefore dedicates an entire work package to sharing its mission, progress and results with specific audiences, using the right messages and channels for each – such as this blog post!
The team responsible for this WP has designed a coherent communication strategy, as well as a shiny and recognisable brand identity, explaining ASTERISK’s objectives through accessible content such as videos, animations and infographics. We are committed to making our science more open and understandable.
WP9: Management
Integrating all the knowledge generated in an organised and timely manner is a complex task. This work package is therefore responsible for coordinating all project activities and ensuring effective collaboration among partners. Its main objective is to facilitate the scientific success of ASTERISK through careful progress monitoring, resource management, open communication and coordinated action.
In addition, this WP will ensure that the project meets its contractual obligations to our funders – the European Union and the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, anticipating, mitigating and managing any research-related risks. Finally, it will seek to maximise the project’s impact, both during its lifetime and beyond.
Contact for media:
ASTERISK Press Office
Fernando Gomollón-Bel and Lucía Casas Piñeiro
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