Dear Friends,

February is usually a turning point of the hydrogen calendar. We are entering the Annual Work Programme after the opening of the Call 2024 and our support to some info days. It has been a pleasure for me to meet some of you in Brussels and Rome. We will soon launch the call for topics for the AWP25 after we approve, at the Governing Board's level, the strategic priorities. 

I strongly invite you to connect to one or more of our Working Groups, where we are working to reposition our Association in the hydrogen landscape in Europe, to give you more chances to influence the upcoming European programmes. This is a priority for us this year.

At the same time, in collaboration with Hydrogen Europe, we are trying to better understand which could be the role of our Association within the European Education and Training activities in the hydrogen sector. HER is supporting several initiatives like GreenSkills4Hydrogen and the Hydrogen Observatory, and participating in discussions alongside the implementation of the European Hydrogen Academy.

To valorize higher education paths and careers we will be happy to launch, co-organized with BE-Hyfe team, the first EPHyC Conference that will take place in Gent on March 20-22. I will be there to know some of the students, to talk about hydrogen research in the European landscape, and to interact with them on their studies and research activities.

I am also happy to announce that we were awarded two new projects: the first one is SET4H2, where we will support the effort to transform a Temporary Working Group on Hydrogen in the SET Plan into an Implementation Working Group that will be officially launched by the end of this year. This will lead to a better collaboration between the Commission and Member States on hydrogen activities, finding the proper schemes of support and the related priorities for hydrogen research and innovation. A second initiative is the Hyperion project, funded by the Interreg programme, where we will support Regions of Europe in leveraging their know-how on hydrogen practices and policies and the way to implement them on a regional scale. For that additional effort needed, we are recruiting new personnel that will be soon announced to you. Detailed information on the projects will be shared once they start.

I invite you to read this February newsletter and at the same time, I would like again to express my gratitude to all the active members participating in the several discussion tables and our people at the Secretariat for their brilliant support.

HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH NEWS AND ACTIVITIES

Low TRL Research Working Group & Research & Technology Infrastructure Working Group

The recently established Low TRL Research Working Group and Research & Technology Infrastructure Working Group are finally up and running!

The Low TRL Research Working Group brings together diverse expertise from various fields to explore and advance the early-stage development of hydrogen technologies, aiming to lay the groundwork for future innovations and applications in the hydrogen sector. Our members participating in the Low TRL Working Group explore and push the boundaries of emerging concepts and ideas in the early stages of development, aiming to increase the TRL of these technologies for future practical applications.

The Research & Technology Infrastructure Working Group fosters the development, deployment, and integration of hydrogen technologies into various sectors, in collaboration with research institutions, industries, and other platforms. Members participating in this Working Group will have access to information-sharing initiatives to help leverage global expertise and resources. 

If you are a Hydrogen Europe Research member and you wish to be involved in these new activities, do not hesitate to contact our Innovation Manager: l.mazurkiewicz@hydrogeneuroperesearch.eu

Less than a month to the European PHD Hydrogen Conference!

The European PHD Hydrogen Conference (EPHyC) is a conference aimed solely at EU-based PhD researchers working on a hydrogen-related research topic. The conference is organized by BE-HyFE (Belgium) and Hydrogen Europe Research and will have its first edition from 20 till 22 March 2024 in Ghent, Belgium.

During the 3-day conference, more than 160 PhDs from across Europe will present their hydrogen-related research to each other and unveil the future of hydrogen technology; next to the PhD presentations, which will form the bulk of the conference, there will be social events, keynote speeches and an industry day. The programme of the event can be found here!

Follow the event on LinkedIn!

CLEAN HYDROGEN PARTNERSHIP UPDATES

The recording can be seen here and presentations can be retrieved here.

As we turn the page of the 2024 Call for Proposals, activities surrounding the development of Annual Work Plan 2025 have started within Hydrogen Europe Research – members should stay tuned for the upcoming first milestones!

Should you be interested in participating in the elaboration of the next Annual Work Plan, do not hesitate to get in touch with our Innovation Manager – Louis Mazurkiewicz, l.mazurkiewicz@hydrogeneuroperesearch.eu

MEMBERS’ NEWS

WELCOME TO HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH NEW MEMBERS!

We welcome new members interested in joining the European research and innovation ecosystem focused on hydrogen! 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.

CRM Group

Poznan University of Technology

Koç University

MEMBERS' PROJECTS

H2 Mobility technician training program now available!

The project focuses on training a specialized workforce, composed of technicians capable of installing and maintaining hydrogen powertrains Refueling Stations (HRS), as the key player it will be in decarbonization and the implementation of green energy.

The UpHyMob’s hydrogen mobility technician training course is now available! The purpose of the course is to enable H2 vehicle mechanics to acquire theoretical knowledge and practical skills that will help them be employed (or re-employed) in the field of the H2 mobility sector.

Try it for free and discover the contents of a certified training program in hydrogen technologies!

Kick-off meeting of the project DelHyVEHR

The DelHyVEHR project has officially kicked off its start with the goal of making liquid hydrogen distribution viable and therefore making it accessible as a clean energy carrier across various industries. Hosted at ENGIE Lab Crigen in Paris on 29-30 January, the project's Kick-Off brought together the consortium of 13 partners, mainly from the industry.

This 3-years project, coordinated by ENGIE Lab Crigen, the ENGIE Group's research centre on energy transition, is funded by the European Union and supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership with a budget of € 5M and a European contribution of € 3.7M. Additionally, this project has received CHF 840k (~€ 866k) funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and € 1.3M from UK Research and Innovation.

Liquid hydrogen usage could substantially lead to carbon reduction, particularly within heavy-duty applications such as aviation, maritime, and railroad transportation. While existing technologies have paved the way for gaseous hydrogen refuelling for light vehicles, DelHyVEHR aims to address the gap in liquid hydrogen distribution infrastructure

Key objectives of the DelHyVEHR project include the development of a liquid hydrogen (LH2) high-rate refuelling station dedicated to maritime, aviation and railroad applications with delivery flowrate exceeding 5 tons per hour and zero boil-off losses. The project is expected to achieve its demonstration by the end of 2026. Alongside with market maturity, the costs are expected to be divided by 2 by 2030.

The DelHyVEHR consortium, comprising 13 leading partners from 4 countries across the European Union, the United Kingdom and Switzerland spans the entire value chain from component development to system demonstration and assessment. Additionally, the project benefits from the guidance of a distinguished advisory board comprised of global leaders in hydrogen end-user industries.

Follow the project on LinkedIn!

Kick-off meeting of the Horizon Europe project Hy-SPIRE

The kick-off meeting of the Horizon Europe project Hy-SPIRE “Hydrogen production by innovative solid oxide cell for flexible operation at intermediate temperature” was held in Warsaw on 8-9 February 2024, hosted by the coordinator – the Institute of Power Engineering – National Research Institute (IPE-NRI).

According to long-term goals of EU, green hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources will become an energy vector for decarbonisation of the EU economy, in particular the hard-to-abate industry and transport sectors. Water electrolysis is the most well-known technique used for zero-emission production of hydrogen and the technology of solid oxide electrolysers (SOEL) can become a key technological advantage for EU to become a world leader in hydrogen economy.

The overarching objective of Hy-SPIRE project is to further boost the potential of SOEL by lowering the operating temperature below 700°C and increasing its flexibility to match the profiles of electricity generation in renewable energy sources (RES). Through the development and application of new materials, advanced manufacturing techniques and optimized cell as well as compact stack designs, the project focuses on the creation of novel oxygen ion- and proton-conducting cells (O-SOE and P-SOE, respectively) on both, ceramic and metallic supports. Among the key goals of the Hy-SPIRE a low degradation equal to or lower than 0.75% per 1,000 h, operation at high current densities ca. 1.2 A/cm2 and ability to operate dynamically and fast ramping, can be listed.

Furthermore, the technoeconomic analysis with the support of life cycle assessment (LCA) will be used for the evaluation of project novelties and the market potential, as well as the definition of barriers and research directions to achieve the objectives of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. This, among others, includes the reduction of hydrogen production cost to 3 €/kg by 2030, reduction of CAPEX 520 €/(kg/kW) and OPEX 45 €/(kg/kW).

Click here to discover more about the project!

EVENTS ATTENDEND BY HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH

CleanTech, The European Industrial Renaissance, 5 March 2024, online

Solar and wind deployments across Europe have reached an all-time high; hydrogen is leading the decarbonisation of major industry sectors; heat pumps and energy efficiency actions feature prominently in most European energy strategies. In this context, the European Union is determined to ensure autonomy of supply for its clean tech needs.

Join the Policy, Strategy and Financing Insights webinar on 5 March from 10:00 to 11:30 to gain a clear picture of:

• Where Europe's clean tech ambitions are heading;
• What financing opportunities are available to support industry.

Julia Cora, Hydrogen Europe Research Project & Policy Manager, will be a speaker at the event.

Find out more and register here!

International Brokerage Event on Clean Hydrogen Partnership 2024 Call, 30 January 2024, online

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) organized the "International Brokerage Event on Clean Hydrogen Partnership 2024 Call" in conjunction with Sabanci University on January 30. The event, which was attended by high-level officials, offered a unique platform to connect Turkish and European researchers, and was a good opportunity to expand networks and forge new partnerships.

DON'T MISS THE NEXT EVENTS!

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

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!

CEA LITEN DAYS March 13-14, 2024, Grenoble, France

Liten Days is the must-attend event for decision-makers and experts to discuss new energies (hydrogen, batteries, solar), materials, network systems, decarbonized circular economy and recycling. It is a place where scientists, business leaders, and policymakers can come together not only to share ideas, but to transform them into concrete steps toward our net zero future.

This special format offers attendees a unique combination :

• visit of CEA-Liten technological platforms;
• one-on-one meetings with the CEA-Liten business development managers to discuss your innovative project;
• in-depth technical discussions;
• inspiring plenary session;
• and evening networking reception.

Register here to participate! As a partner of the event, Hydrogen Europe Research can offer to HER members a 20% discount code. If you are interested in participating in the Liten-Days and you are a Hydrogen Europe Research member, please contact Simona at s.vitali@hydrogeneuroperesearch.eu!

Springschool Hydrogen Technology 2024, 17 – 22 March 2024, Heide, Germany

You are welcome at the Springschool Hydrogen Technology 2024! It offers participants a platform for scientific exchange on hydrogen-related technologies and their applications – from the production of hydrogen and its derivatives, storage and distribution to end-use and start-ups in this field. Attendees will get exciting insights from the perspective of both research and the hydrogen processing industry.

Last year, 42 speakers from research and industry presented the entire spectrum of the hydrogen economy to around 50 participants. For the first time, young scientists were also able to use 3-minute pitch talks to speak about their research, which was evaluated and honored by an independent jury.

The organising team is looking forward to exciting topics and new ideas for our sustainable future with hydrogen at Hydrogen Springschool 2024 in Heide this year! Register before 1 March 2024.

Symposium On Electrochemical Energy Technology, 20 March 2024, Stuttgart, Germany

The Symposium on Electrochemical Energy Technology (SEET), organised by DLR Stuttgart, will focus on cutting-edge topics in the field of electrochemical energy technology - fuel cells - water electrolysis - rechargeable batteries. These technologies are considered key to the success of the energy transition based on renewable energy sources. The specific topics will be addressed from the perspective of industry and academia, thus providing a comprehensive view and strengthening their interaction. Three sessions on fuel cells, electrolyzers and batteries will be on the agenda.

Click here to learn more! The deadline to register is 10 March 2024.

Hydrogen Days 2024: "Hydrogen – Implementation Lost in Regulation?", 20-22 March 2024, Prague, Czech Republic

Hydrogen Days 2024, now in its 14th edition, continues to be a leading event within the hydrogen community. This conference serves as a significant platform for the exchange of information and experiences across European regions at various stages of implementing hydrogen technologies into everyday life.

The primary focus this year will be the progress of hydrogen implementation, a key aspect in advancing technology maturity and broad public adoption while addressing unforeseen challenges.

The conference will take place on March 20-22 as a physical event. Click here to discover more about the conference!

Spring Summer School JESS 2024: Pre-Announcement 2024

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

International Webinar “Living on Hydrogen” - 2024 - Microbial Influence on Hydrogen Underground Storage, 7 May 2024

With great success and attendance of many from academia, industry and governmental institutes, the “Living on Hydrogen” webinar will continue in 2024. More and more data and knowledge are now obtained by researchers around the world on the topic of hydrogen underground storage in general, and specifically the role of microbes. This free online seminar is aimed towards cross-disciplinary scientists, operators and industry members, interested in understanding microbial risks and working on this fascinating topic.

If you want to hear and discuss the latest results please register here! You will receive the Zoom link one week before the event.

There is a chance, for you, to present your projects and work related to hydrogen underground storage during the webinar! If you want to present your recent findings on the topic, send a short abstract (max. 200 words) before 1 March 2024 to: livingonh2webinar@gmail.com

All scientific fields will be considered, but your work should have implications for microbiology.

8^th International Hydrogen Technologies Congress (IHTEC-2024), May 12-15, 2024 in Diyarbakir, Turkiye

The 8^th International Hydrogen Technologies Congress (IHTEC-2024) will be held between May 12-15, 2024 in Diyarbakir, Turkiye, an ancient cultural metropolis that connects the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea to Mesopotamia. IHTEC-2024 is a multi-disciplinary international conference hosted by Dicle University and coordinated by National Hydrogen Association, Türkiye.

The congress will cover a broad range of topics related to hydrogen technologies, including, among others, hydrogen economy, hydrogen infrastructure, hydrogen management, safety, production, and transformation. The conference will concentrate on a variety of hydrogen-related technologies and will include both inspiring technical programs as well as enjoyable social events. The technical part of the IHTEC-2024 will include sessions where keynote and general speakers will deliver talks on their work and research in hydrogen energy. The social events will include a welcome reception, a gala dinner, and an organized tour of historical places.

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