A group of European partners today announce the selection of the HYGHER (“HYdroGen High-pressure supply chain for innovative and cost Efficient distRibution) project in the competitive call “Demonstration of high-pressure (500-700 bar) supply chain” organised by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership.
This new project will demonstrate innovative technologies for transporting hydrogen at high pressure from production sites to refuelling stations – on a scale and at pressure levels that are unprecedented in today’s hydrogen mobility market. With a grant of 5 million euros awarded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, the project will focus on real-life demonstration of innovative components and their optimal integration across the hydrogen distribution value chain. The project has started in January 2024, and will run for 36 months.
From concept to reality with joint efforts
HYGHER is run by a European consortium of leading research institutions and innovative SMEs. The European Institute for Energy Research (EIFER, Germany) coordinates the project and will assess the economic performance of the demonstrated value chain. Two innovative SMEs will manufacture the main sub-components: EIFHYTEC, a French start-up, will manufacture a thermo-chemical compressor to compress hydrogen at the production site. RECOMA, an Italian trailers integrator, will produce two high-pressure trailers featuring novel cascading concepts for optimised filling and unloading. HYPE, the pioneering green hydrogen mobility platform launched in Paris in 2015, will operate the entire HYGHER high- pressure distribution value chain, which includes:
- The new innovative high-pressure filling centre, which integrates the EIFHYTEC compressor and is connected to one of HYPE’s own green hydrogen production units in the Paris area;
- The distribution of compressed hydrogen to HYPE’s hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) network in the greater Paris area (Île-de-France) using the project’s first-of-its-kind high- pressure RECOMA trailers.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (Germany) will develop a dedicated safety approach including research and improvement for regulations, codes and standards as well as the performance of risk analysis. The University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) will ensure early integration of circularity aspects to maximise the sustainability of the value chain.
From the start, technical and market conditions for future upscale will be investigated and replications prepared. To that end, the consortium will be supported by German technology transfer centre Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, which will also raise awareness about the potential and benefits of the HYGHER solution, to accelerate market uptake.
Importance of Cost-Effective Hydrogen Distribution Logistics
When produced from green energies, hydrogen stands out as one of the most promising solutions to decarbonize the transport sector. In support of this, the EU Council has committed to enhancing the hydrogen refueling infrastructure. However, the scalability of hydrogen mobility hinges on its widespread availability and affordability. Addressing the logistics of hydrogen distribution, which currently accounts for about 50% of the total cost of hydrogen at Hydrogen Refueling Stations (HRS), is crucial. Today, this logistics challenge poses a significant technical and economic barrier to the broader implementation of hydrogen infrastructure.
The HYGHER project is set to demonstrate the viability of an innovative, cost-efficient, and dependable high-pressure value chain by integrating several advanced technologies prepared for large-scale application. The strategy of compressing hydrogen at the production site and transporting it under high pressure is anticipated to significantly reduce both capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX) of the distribution chain, consequently reducing the hydrogen cost at the nozzle. Throughout the project, comprehensive attention will be given to design, safety, economic, and regulatory considerations to ease future implementations.
About HYGHER
HYGHER, an EU-funded project under the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, endeavors to validate the advanced stage of an innovative high-pressure hydrogen distribution value chain. Implemented in the greater Paris area, the project will see the establishment of a pioneering filling center capable of compressing hydrogen to high pressures, and the deployment of two new high-pressure trailers to service the network of HRS operated by HYPE in the region. With a total budget exceeding €6.7 million, the seven consortium partners are dedicated to enhancing and integrating all components across this new value chain. Focusing on innovative compression, circularity, and safety, the project aims to facilitate sustainable and cost-effective hydrogen distribution, overcoming one of the primary obstacles to the widespread adoption of hydrogen mobility. The project, starting in 2024, is projected to last 3 years and is coordinated by the European Institute For Energy Research (EIFER, Germany).
Project Coordination: European Institute for Energy Research
Email: [email protected]
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