Trade fairs and conferences

The DECHEMA FORUM 2026 brings together researchers from industry, academia, and research institutions to discuss the sustainable transformation of the process industry. The focus is on how fossil raw materials and energy sources can be replaced with sustainable alternatives without jeopardizing the industry’s competitiveness. In addition to technical presentations, the forum offers interactive workshops, discussion sessions, poster presentations, and an industry exhibition.

Fraunhofer IST is participating with a poster presentation on strategies for recycling PEM fuel cells.

Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 5:15 – 7:45 p.m.

PEM Fuel Cell Recycling Strategies

Nico Lüdtke

As production volumes of PEM fuel cells rise, their recycling is also becoming increasingly important. The poster presentation introduces holistic recycling strategies ranging from the disassembly of complete fuel cell stacks to the recovery of valuable materials such as platinum and membrane components. Using case studies, it demonstrates how innovative recycling processes support the circular economy for PEM fuel cells and can be incorporated as early as the product development stage.