Dear Friends,
From March to April, it starts a season of fairs, exhibitions and events. A lot of them are more and more focused on hydrogen, signalling a more prominent role in a wider community. As Hydrogen Europe Research, we have attended a lot of these events located in different EU countries (Italy, France, and Czech Republic), promoting the important role of research, and trying to give a message about the necessary support to keep the leadership of Europe in the hydrogen whole chain.
In March, we had the usual appointment with the Governing Board of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, to discuss some important events of 2023, such as the Hydrogen Week, the Annual Work Plan 2024, and the interim role for the executive director of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership.
As Hydrogen Europe Research, I took a position for a more prominent role of research in the present and future framework programme, in relationship with our collaboration with DR RTD, but not only: I also promoted the collaboration with other partnerships, in an inter-partnership programme that was pushed at the last 9th meeting of the Clean Planet Inter-Partnerships Assembly, attended by several DG of the European Commission. On this occasion, together with Hydrogen Europe, we pointed out the need of collaborating with other EC programmes on hydrogen, such as the ERC. This was considered positively and promising for the settlement of low TRL research on hydrogen in Europe.
Regarding the Hydrogen Week 2023, we aim to be present with a pavilion at the expo. Our members are welcome to join us, and we will share some news about this soon. In parallel, we will have an important role in organizing some events of the week (such as the one on Skills), together with Hydrogen Europe, the European Commission and the Clean Hydrogen JU. We would like to invite international experts from our community to speak and give their precious contributions to the programme of the week.
In the upcoming month, we will see a closure of the call 2023 and the active participation of some of you in drafting the topics for the AWP 2024. I hope this will be highly participated by HER members.
I hope to see many of our members in person at the next General Assembly in Madrid, on June 7th, where I’ll be delighted to share some important news related to the extension of our internal programme.
Best wishes!
Luigi Crema
President, Hydrogen Europe Research
HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH NEWS AND ACTIVITIES
HER, HE and EURAMET signed a Memorandum of Understanding
Hydrogen Europe Research’s President Luigi Crema, Hydrogen Europe’s CEO Jorgo Chatzimarkakis and EURAMET’s Vice-Chairperson Miruna Dobre signed on 17 March a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to harness the synergies between the hydrogen and metrology communities. The aim of this cooperation is to support the metrology needs requiring further research in the field of hydrogen and create bridges between our respective members.
The forms of cooperation include:
- Exchange of knowledge about capabilities and needs in the field of metrology for hydrogen;
- Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research will become members of the EMNs stakeholder council;
- Exchange of information on research in the field of hydrogen performed under the European Partnership on Metrology (EPM) and the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and create synergies that enhance the efficiency and impact of both research programmes under the partnerships;
- Joint exchange of information on further funded research programmes dealing with energy gases, energy transition and/or climate topics.
We look forward to pursuing our good collaboration!
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ROADMAPS
During the month of March, Hydrogen Europe Research and Hydrogen Europe renewed the leaders of their common Research and Innovation Roadmaps! In total, 32 Roadmap leaders were elected by our members, amongst which 18 are representatives of Hydrogen Europe Research and 14 are representatives of Hydrogen Europe.
The 22 Research and Innovation Roadmaps coordinated by Hydrogen Europe Research and Hydrogen Europe cover the whole hydrogen value chain (from production to various industrial and mobility end-uses, passing by storage, transport and distribution of hydrogen). They provide a forum for members to discuss the research and innovation activities that should be covered annually and are constituted of experts in their respective fields.
Hydrogen Europe Research and Hydrogen Europe will soon kick-off the update of these Roadmaps. This process will start during the month of June and last until the end of the year – if you are a Hydrogen Europe Research member and are interested in participating, you can reach out to our Innovation Manager, Louis Mazurkiewicz – l.mazurkiewicz@hydrogeneuroperesearch.eu
CLEAN HYDROGEN PARTNERSHIP UPDATES
The deadline (18 April) for the submission of proposals for topics included in the 2023 Call for proposals is fast approaching – good luck to all applicants in this final sprint!
Looking ahead, activities surrounding the elaboration of Annual Work Plan 2024 are well underway. Initial drafts of research and innovation topics will be prepared by Hydrogen Europe Research and Hydrogen Europe members and shared to the European Commission and Programme Office of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership by the end of May.
If you are a Hydrogen Europe Research member and wish to participate to the drafting of these research and innovation topics, keep an eye out for internal communications sent by our Innovation Manager!
NEWS FROM EUROPE
Electricity market reform
On March 14, the European Commission proposed to reform the EU's electricity market design to accelerate a surge in renewables and the phase-out of gas, make consumer bills less dependent on volatile fossil fuel prices, better protect consumers from future price spikes and potential market manipulation, and make the EU's industry clean and more competitive.
Building a renewables-based energy system will not only be crucial to lower consumer bills, but also to ensure a sustainable and independent energy supply to the EU, in line with the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU Plan. This reform, which is part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan, will also allow European industry to have access to a renewable, non-fossil and affordable power supply which is a key enabler of decarbonisation and the green transition.
Read more here.
Net-Zero Industry Act
On 16 March the European Commission proposed the Net-Zero Industry Act to scale up manufacturing of clean technologies in the EU and make sure the Union is well-equipped for the clean-energy transition. The Act will strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of net-zero technologies manufacturing in the EU, and make our energy system more secure and sustainable.
Read more here.
Critical Raw Materials Act
On March 16, the Commission proposed a comprehensive set of actions to ensure the EU's access to a secure, diversified, affordable and sustainable supply of critical raw materials. Critical raw materials are indispensable for a wide set of strategic sectors including the net zero industry, the digital industry, aerospace, and defence sectors; however, Europe heavily relies on imports, often from quasi-monopolistic third country suppliers. The EU needs to mitigate the risks for supply chains related to such strategic dependencies to enhance its economic resilience, circularity and sustainability.
Read more here.
Together with the reform of the electricity market design and the Net Zero Industry Act, these measures on critical raw materials create a conducive regulatory environment for the net-zero industries and the competitiveness of European industry, and they will help increase the resilience of Europe's clean energy supply chains.
MEMBERS’ NEWS
WELCOME TO HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH NEW MEMBERS!
Following the approval of the new Statutes (April 6, 2022), the Executive Board is in charge of reviewing the applications received once per month and accepting new members. We are proud to announce that since April 2022, the Executive Board welcomed 41 new full members!
If you are not part of the Hydrogen Europe Research membership, and you would like to have more information on how to join us, contact us at secretariat@hydrogeneuroperesearch.eu!
Click here to discover more about our membership criteria.
RWTH Aachen University
RWTH Aachen University is an excellent university with around 47,000 students and an outstanding reputation in research and industry. The Center for Sustainable Hydrogen Systems, CSHS for short, is the central point of contact for all issues relating to hydrogen research at the university. The center bundles expertise in the strategic topic of hydrogen and creates a common interface that encompasses both the faculties and the transverse profile areas.
AGH University of Science and Technology
The AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow is a modern state university whose priority is the accomplishment of tasks and projects of the knowledge triangle: education - scientific research -innovations. The AGH University of Science and Technology has strong traditions in the field of fuels and energy and strives to become a leader in Poland in the field of modern energy technologies, including clean hydrogen.
Danish Technological Institute
The Danish Technological Institute is among the strongest partners when it comes to developing and implementing high-tech solutions in Danish companies. They are a key partner in ensuring that the green transition takes place in companies in terms of energy, materials and foods. In all three areas, they offer Danish companies a shortcut in the form of competencies and equipment for developing and testing green technological solutions.
Fundación Fundecyt Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Extremadura
Fundecyt Pctex’s mission is to create the necessary space and services to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, science and technology for the socio-economic development of the Extremadura region. Here, the Iberian Centre for Research in Energy Storage – CIIAE pursues research on sustainable hydrogen generation, using low-temperature and high-temperature electrolysis, as well as biomass valorization towards hydrogen.
Campus Sul – Associação Interuniversitária do Sul
Campus Sul is an Association formed by the University of Algarve, University of Évora and NOVA University Lisbon, with the mission of contributing to the strengthening of the territorial cohesion and sustainable development of the South of Portugal. The South Campus intends to promote the qualification and advanced training of the resources installed in the regions, to carry out research with impact and develop innovative solutions that respond to the Sustainability Goals, and to support Portugal’s Economic Recovery Plan to create a more sustainable South.
EVENTS ATTENDED BY HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH
AMETHyST kick-off meeting on 7-8 March 2023 in Moutiers, France
The kick-off meeting of the AMETHyST project gathered more than 130 people in Moutiers, and 110 people online on the webstream of the event, showing a great local, regional and European interest in the development of hydrogen in the Alpine territories. AMETHyST and its partners were particularly motivated to support the emergence of these Alpine Hydrogen ecosystems.
Our President, Luigi Crema, attended the event on behalf of Hydrogen Europe Research.
K.EY - The Energy Transition Expo on 22-24 March 2023 in Rimini, Italy
Europe, including Italy, is keen to industrialize electrolyser technology to be a global leader in this sector, as it believes that green hydrogen will play a key role in the decarbonisation path as defined by the European hydrogen strategy. But in practice: how are renewable and hydrogen production coupling projects configured? What are the technical difficulties? How does European legislation and regulation impact the development of this energy sector?
Our President, Luigi Crema, was a speaker during the session “Green hydrogen: from production technologies to its use in hydrogen valleys” of the K.EY - The Energy Transition Expo to answer all these questions.
Hydrogen Days on 29-31 March in Prague, Czech Republic
Our President, Luigi Crema, was a speaker during the opening session of the Hydrogen Days on March 29, where he gave a short speech entitled “Priorities for hydrogen R&I in Europe: The perspective of Hydrogen Europe Research”.
During his presentation, Luigi Crema pointed out the need to support research in the coming years in Europe, beyond the Horizon Europe programme, and the need for fundamental research, novel infrastructures for innovation and a strong education and training European programme for skilling and re-skilling of workforce.
DON'T MISS THE NEXT EVENTS!
7th International Hydrogen Technologies Congress, 10-12 May in Elazığ, Türkiye
The Seventh International Hydrogen Technologies Congress (IHTEC-2023), which is a multi-disciplinary international congress hosted by Fırat University and coordinated by National Hydrogen Association, Turkey, will be held between 10-12 May 2023 in Elazığ, Türkiye. The technical part of the IHTEC-2023 will include sessions where keynote, invited and general speakers will deliver talks on their work and research in hydrogen energy. Topics of the congress include but are not limited to hydrogen economy, hydrogen infrastructures, hydrogen management, safety, production and conversion.
Click here to discover more.
Joint European Summer School on Fuel Cell, Electrolyser, and Battery Technologies
The Joint European Summer School JESS 2023 will be held near the beautiful city of Athens on the coast of the Aegean Sea. Once again, the summer school will provide condensed high-level courses on selected topics. The topical content is tailored to the needs of a diverse audience: newcomers to the field of hydrogen, experienced students, and young professionals working at the forefront of fuel cell, electrolyser, and battery applications.
Pass on this information to PhD students and colleagues who might want to participate in this training!
Registrations and more information can be found here.
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