Dear Friends,

I’m really enthusiastic to share with you some news this month! In October, we had the chance, thanks to the support from the Secretariat, to launch important actions inside Hydrogen Europe Research that will frame our positioning in the medium and long term. Please, take five minutes to go through this carefully!

At the end of September, we launched two new Working Groups, the first on Low TRL Research and the second on Research and Technology infrastructures. These two groups will be pivotal in framing our positioning in Europe and enlarging our collaboration with other entities and institutions.

In parallel, there are several ongoing important activities moved forward from the European Commission involving the Clean Hydrogen JU and other Joint Undertakings: the phase-out plan (as planned in our SBA), the interim evaluation and assessment of the JUs, together with the SRIA update. All these actions are indeed correlated and in relationship with the Future of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership beyond the programme of Horizon Europe.

This is why we launched a questionnaire to ask you for some feedback regarding the priorities for future research and the positioning of our Association. We have started to receive your feedback, and I’m thankful to those who already replied.

We started an internal team, jointly with Hydrogen Europe, to have a close look at what we could propose to the EC early next year, to continue the support to a strong R&I programme on hydrogen in Europe, to achieve the stronger competition we have at the global scale. I’d like to include in our statements the important role of research as one cornerstone of the EC programme and something to restart again in FP10. We will stay tuned on this important topic, and your priorities will be of high importance!

I’d like to express my gratitude to all active members, TC leaders and RM leaders, who supported the drafting of the AWP24 and the SRIA update in due time to move forward to the next steps.

With the new members - ISINNOVA and Wrocław University of Science and Technology - we officially reached the important number of 150 members. I hope to celebrate this achievement with you at the General Assembly we will host during the Hydrogen Week in Brussels! It will be a real pleasure to meet some of you in person and shake our hands!

We will have plenty of events to meet, discuss, and celebrate together!!!

HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH NEWS AND ACTIVITIES

Hydrogen Europe Research’s participation in the Hydrogen Week

The European Hydrogen Week will take place from 20-24 November! The week is one of the biggest annual events dedicated to hydrogen, and Hydrogen Europe Research actively supported the drafting of the program. During the 5 days, thought-provoking discussions with some of the most prominent stakeholders in the hydrogen sector will take place, covering the most pressing topics facing this new industry: the need for both urgency and pragmatism in creating the regulatory framework, the unique challenges different sectors face to decarbonize and how hydrogen can help, and how to remain a leader in an industry that has caught the attention of the rest of the world.

The week will include:

- The High-Level Policy Conference and the B2B Forum: these two main content streams will provide participants with a new source of inspiration, new knowledge and peer-to-peer exchanges. Register here!

- An exhibition: based on the success of the past editions, this year the expo floor is expanded into two halls for a total of over 8000 sqm, ready to welcome more than 6000 attendees. Hydrogen Europe Research will be a proud exhibitor during the Hydrogen Week. Come see us at our Pavilion at booth C10, and get to know our 10 members, their research activities in the field of hydrogen and their projects!

• Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium (CERIC-ERIC)
• Cetim, the French Technical Center For Mechanical Industries
• Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)
• European Research Institute for Gas and Energy Innovation (ERIG)
• Fondazione Bruno Kessler – FBK
• German Aerospace Center - Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
• HyCenta
• Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)
• University of Oulu
• Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

- Hydrogen Europe Research General Assembly (November 21, from 14:00 to 17:30 at Brussels Expo and online): the private event is dedicated to Hydrogen Europe Research Members only. Our members are welcome to join us for a very successful meeting! A joint lunch with the HIGGS project will be provided at 13:00 for all interested members.

During the in-person ceremony, the brilliant work of 5 young researchers will be awarded and recognised in front of relevant stakeholders of the hydrogen ecosystem.

We wish to thank the young researchers who took the time to apply and participate in our yearly competitions!

EU PhD Hydrogen Conference 2024: more than 180 abstracts submitted!

The very first edition of the European PhD Hydrogen Conference (or short EPHyC2024) received more than 180 abstracts!

The conference, organised by the BE-HyFE team with the support of Hydrogen Europe Research, will take place on 20-22 March 2024 in Ghent, Belgium. It will serve as a platform for PhD researchers to present their groundbreaking work, share insights, and engage in stimulating discussions with fellow experts from across the continent.

Next to the many inspiring thematical PhD sessions, there will be plenty of opportunities during the three conference days to network with all the participants at lunch and coffee breaks. We also offer all participants a social program with an ice-breaker event, a conference dinner, and final closing drinks. The conference is primarily academic based, but there will be one industry day where you will get to know many interesting hydrogen(-related) companies and share your thoughts with the people who work on real-life applications.

Follow us on LinkedIn to discover more about our conference, the upcoming news and the amazing sponsors which will make everything possible!

New Working Groups within Hydrogen Europe Research!

Following a kick-off webinar held on 27 September, two new working groups within Hydrogen Europe Research were officially launched: the Low TRL Research Working Group and The Research (RI) and Technology (TI) Infrastructures Working Group will complement the already successful Policy Working Group and Skills Working Group. With these new WGs, we aim to cover all of Hydrogen Europe Research’s pillars.

If you have questions or you wish to join the new Working Groups, do not hesitate to contact our Innovation Manager at l.mazurkiewicz@hydrogeneuroperesearch.eu!

CLEAN HYDROGEN PARTNERSHIP UPDATES

The European Hydrogen Observatory was successfully relaunched on 29 September, during an online event with the participation of speakers from the European Commission, Hydrogen Europe, Clean Hydrogen Partnership, IEA and other Observatory partners. More information can be found here.

The Clean Hydrogen Partnership recently launched a call for regional and national Managing Authorities from the EU-27 and Horizon Europe associated countries aiming to develop cooperation in relevant key areas for hydrogen development. The results can be found here.

MEMBERS’ NEWS

WELCOME TO HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH NEW MEMBERS!

We are happy to share that in October, Hydrogen Europe Research reached the ambitious goal of welcoming 150 members!

We are in great expansion: in 13 years, our membership basis and our geographic coverage have doubled! We welcome new members interested in joining the European research and innovation ecosystem focused on hydrogen and participating in the underlying discussions surrounding the development of our sector.

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.

ISINNOVA

It was established in 1971 and has since been developing and applying decision support methods and tools, and providing services to international organisations (European Commission, European Parliament, World Bank and Food and Agriculture Organisation), national and local public authorities and to the industry.

Wrocław University of Science and Technology

The Centre conducts interdepartmental activities including: interdisciplinary research, educational, service, information, training and promotional activities on the subject of renewable energy sources, hydrogen technologies and their integration in the energy system and the decarbonization of the economy, with a particular taking into account the role of hydrogen in the country's energy transition.

MEMBERS' INITIATIVES

Berlin Electrolyser Conference, 6-7 December 2023

The Berlin Electrolyser Conference (BEC) was founded in 2020 and launched as “Next Generation Electrolysers” virtual event in December 2020 and again 2021. Their mission is to bring together electrolyser specialists, engineering experts, scientific researchers and other stakeholders along the electrolyser value chain to discuss the development, manufacturing, deployment and integration of the next generation of industrial electrolysers.

Click here to learn more about this international technical summit focusing on the development, manufacturing, deployment and industrial integration of next-generation electrolysers.

Fuel Cell Modeling: Understanding Charge, Mass, and Heat Transfer in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells - CAMELOT Project Workshop, 6-7 December 2023

As part of this work, a free and open source Fuel Cell Performance Model has been developed and extended to describe the transport and kinetic processes in ultra-thin, low-loaded membrane electrode assemblies.

The workshop will provide attendees with an understanding of the general theory behind the model and highlight the improvements made within the project, as well as a hands-on implementation of the model through tutorial sessions supported by the FAST Simulations team.

Click here to learn more about the event.

World Fuel Cell Conference 2023, 11-13 December 2023, Imperial College London, UK

The 2023 World Fuel Cell Conference (WFCC) is a multi-disciplinary conference that covers the latest developments and advancements in fuel cells, from fundamentals, to advanced materials, design, engineering, products, and applications.

Click here to learn more about the conference and its programme!

EVENTS ATTENDEND BY HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH

CETPartnership Annual Conference, 24-25 October 2023, Online

HER President, Luigi Crema, participated in the Annual Conference of the Clean Energy Transition Partnership in a panel discussion on “Common challenges, approaches and cooperative RDI ways forward”, moderated by Ludwig Karg and attended by Rosalinde van der Vlies, European Commission, Directorate-General Research and Innovation, Director for Clean Planet, Philippe Jacques, Energy Material Industrial Research Initiative (EMIRI) and Battery European Partnership Association (BEPA), Tae-Yoon Kim, International Energy Agency, Dr. Paula Kivimaa, Finnish Environment Institute Syke.

Barcolana Sea Summit, 4-6 October 2023, Trieste, Italy

A roundtable on the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley and the role of the different stakeholders was moderated during the summit by HER President, Luigi Crema. 

Storming project workshop, 27 September 2023, Online

Luigi Crema participated in the Workshop that involved three EU-funded projects on Methane Cracking, Storming, Coldspark and Titan, presenting Hydrogen Europpoe Research and the activities of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership in support of other modes of hydrogen production. Click here to discover more.

DON'T MISS THE NEXT EVENTS!

#ReskillEU - new jobs for energy and transport in Europe, 8 November 2023, 9AM - 6PM | Room JDE62 | EESC, Rue Belliard 99, Brussels, Belgium

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and DG Research & Innovation (DG RTD, European Commission) will organise a one-day conference, in Brussels on 8 November 2023, to discuss the need for new skills in the areas of clean energy and transport focusing on skills development through R&I activities. Horizon Europe supports skills development to make the EU's green and digital transitions successful, in line with the objectives set in the European Skills Agenda for 2025 and against the background of the European Year of Skills.

The conference will bring together relevant stakeholders, notably civil society organisations, education networks, academia, industry, research organisations and European institutions to discuss the contribution of research and innovation activities to the skills agenda for Europe.

Click here to discover more and to register!

EU Hydrogen Research Days 2023, 15 - 16 November 2023, Online

In 2023, the EU Hydrogen Research Days will take place fully online on 15 and 16 November. It will assess the progress and achievements in the various pillars of the Clean Hydrogen programme and discuss ways forward and key issues concerning research and innovation in the clean hydrogen field.

Register here!

European Hydrogen Energy Conference (EHEC) 2024, 6-8 March 2024, Bilbao, Spain

As part of the relationship of collaboration and cooperation with the Spanish Hydrogen Association, we are pleased to inform you that the new edition of the European Hydrogen Energy Conference (EHEC 2024), organized by the AeH2, will be held in Bilbao on March 6,7 & 8 2024.

EHEC has established itself as a leading conference in the hydrogen sector, taking place every two years for almost two decades. The previous edition, held in Madrid in 2022, attracted over 1100 attendees from 40 countries. With more than 200 speakers, 36 parallel sessions, and over 50 exhibitors throughout three days, it provided a comprehensive platform for knowledge and business exchange.

We believe that EHEC 2024 will offer a unique opportunity to stay up-to-date on the rapid changes within the sector, both in terms of R&D and industrial and regulatory advances.

Follow the event on Linkedin!

Spring Summer School JESS 2024: Pre-Announcement 2024

In 2023, the Joint European Summer School JESS 2023 is being held near the beautiful city of Athens on the coast of the Aegean Sea. Once again, the summer school is providing 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.

As the Low-Temperature Fuel Cell and Electrolyser module has attracted incredible interest (as last year), and they had to reject a large number of registrations, they have decided to re-run this module in May 2024. The Spring Summer School JESS 2024 will take place from 5 to 11 May 2024 somewhere in Greece.

More details will follow via the website as it becomes available.

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