Europe's transition towards climate neutrality requires not only clean energy technologies but also more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. Functional ceramics are essential for the next generation of energy systems, yet their traditional production methods often lack the necessary precision for complex components, limiting their industrial adoption.
The SuMaCer project addresses this need with a holistic approach for smart and sustainable scale-up. The primary goal is to enable faster, cleaner, and more efficient manufacturing of clean energy devices, entirely within Europe.
To achieve this, SuMaCer integrates advanced additive manufacturing techniques, digital twins, and process optimization. These advancements will be validated through three industrial-scale minimum viable products: solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC), and metal-supported sodium batteries.
The project, which commenced in September 2026, is holding its kick-off meeting on October 8 and 9 in Barcelona. This gathering will bring together the 12 consortium partners to align objectives and define the roadmap.
With a budget exceeding €5 million and a duration of 36 months, SuMaCer brings together experts in research, technology, and industry from across Europe, including hardware manufacturers, software developers, and producers.
IREC will coordinate the project and lead the definition of manufacturing and system-level requirements. The institute will also participate in the development and optimization of manufacturing routes for solid oxide cells and the metal-supported sodium battery, as well as in the project's clustering and exploitation activities.
IREC's work will be led by Marc Torrell, from the Nanoionics and Fuel Cells Department, and Shanti Liga, from Knowledge and Technology Transfer.
