European projects
Hydrogen, fuel cells and the conditions for clean energy.
European programmes have supported work on hydrogen transport, solid oxide fuel cell systems and the assessment of hydrogen sustainability and safety.
SOFCOM
SOFCOM was an FP7 project on solid oxide fuel cell systems for combined cooling, heat and power. The project examined whether the systems work, how efficiently they run and what environmental benefit they offer when fed by different biogenous fuels, with a CO2 separation step for the anode exhaust gases.
The consortium was led by Politecnico di Torino, with a budget of 5.7 million euros and a period from 2011 to 2014. Partners included VTT, Topsoe Fuel Cell, SMAT, MATGAS, CNR, IEN, EPFL, TUM and UNITO. MATGAS contributed to the scientific and technical work on system integration and CO2 separation.
HyTEC
HyTEC was an FP7 project on hydrogen transport in European cities. It brought together London and Copenhagen, two cities that had decided to adopt hydrogen technology early, in a pan European partnership. The project installed a network of fuelling stations and supported a fleet of hydrogen powered taxis.
The project had a budget of 29.53 million euros, of which 11.95 million euros came from FP7. It was led by Air Products and involved 16 companies across the hydrogen supply chain. The work addressed both the technology and the standards needed for wider use.
H2TRUST
H2TRUST was formed to examine the sustainability and safety of hydrogen as it moves into wider use in Europe. The consortium brought together organisations with an interest in hydrogen production, distribution and end use, and it aimed to make the evidence base for hydrogen clearer to decision makers and the public.
The centre's role in these projects reflects a broader interest in the conditions under which a clean energy technology can be deployed: not only whether it works, but whether it can be supplied, regulated and understood.
Working on a European proposal
The centre welcomes early conversations with proposal coordinators who need a partner for materials, gas separation, hydrogen safety or life cycle assessment. A short description of the call, the consortium and the expected contribution is enough to begin.