Bipolar plate with stiffening structures

A bipolar plate for an electrochemical system, the bipolar plate comprising a first individual plate and a second individual plate which are joined together, each individual plate comprising:

• an electrochemically active region,
• an outer edge which laterally delimits the respective individual plate,
• a perimeter sealing element, surrounding the electrochemically active region and running at least in regions along the outer edge, for sealing off the electrochemically active region, and
• an outer edge region spans between the edge of the perimeter sealing element facing the outer edge and the outer edge,
• wherein in at least one of the individual plates, the outer edge protrudes out of a plate plane defined by the bipolar plate, at least in regions,
• wherein at least one of the individual plates has a plurality of stiffening structures in order to stiffen the outer edge region of the bipolar plate,
• wherein each of the plurality of stiffening structures is an embossed structure, a hydroformed structure, or a deep drawn structure, and
• wherein the outer edge protruding out of the plate plane forms a plateau portion parallel to the plate plane in the outer edge region, wherein the plateau portion extends from the outer edge to a flank, and wherein a first end of each of the stiffening structures is joined to the flank and a second end of each of the stiffening structures is arranged between the flank and the perimeter sealing element of the respective individual plate, the second end opposite to the first end, such that the stiffening structures are arranged between the plateau portion and the perimeter sealing element.