Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking or Clean Hydrogen Partnership is a unique public-private partnership supporting research and innovation (R&I) activities in hydrogen technologies in Europe. It builds upon the success of its predecessor, the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
Projects under this topic should address efficient electrolysis coupling with variable renewable electricity or heat integration or both.
Specifically, project results, should contribute to all the following expected outcomes:
For all projects:
- Enhanced electrolysis capacity to produce renewable hydrogen (in line with EU regulations);
- Reduction of the levelised cost of hydrogen, including business models for generating additional income;
- Improved overall integration of electrolysis with the energy system.
For projects on coupling with variable renewable electricity:
- Fostering the use of electrolysis plants to balance the electrical network;
- Coupling of multi-MW electrolysis plants to variable renewable energy generation (both on- and off-grid, directly or indirectly coupled);
- Improved and diversified business models for electrolysis plants thanks to the provision of remunerated electrical grid services (at transmission and distribution system level).
For projects addressing heat integration:
- Fostering synergies between electrolysis plants and external heat stakeholders (producers and consumers);
- Improving thermal management within electrolysis plants;
- Improved and diversified business models for electrolysis plants through integrated thermal management and/or integration into heating supply networks.
Project results are expected to contribute to the following objectives of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA:
- Improve dynamic operation and efficiency of systems, with high durability and reliability, especially when operating dynamically, with the following KPIs of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA by 2030.
- Demonstrate the value of electrolysers for the power system through their ability to provide flexibility and allow higher integration of renewables;
- Operate efficiently (at system level including balance of plant) and safely (including with reduced gas crossover when relevant) under variable load with adequate flexibility to be coupled with variable renewable energy;
- MW scale direct coupling to renewable generation (both on- and off-grid) including offshore hydrogen production, aiming at identifying the best system configuration to reach competitiveness;
- Consider innovative system designs and improved balance of plant components to reduce parasitic losses and reduce cost (e.g. purpose-built rectifiers, integrated cooling systems, electrical heaters and heat-exchangers), when relevant in optimised electrical integration with renewables;
- Explore the options for utilising by-product oxygen and waste heat.
Detailed Call Description
The following activities are within the scope of this topic:
- Improve storage (hydrogen, demineralised water, heat, power) and plant control strategies to increase overall plant response reactivity while smoothening ramp-up and -down. This may be supported by a connection to a gas network (incl. salt cavern), or other energy storage (gaseous or electrochemical);
- Demonstrate innovative power electronics (e.g. transformer and rectifier, direct DC/DC coupling) and control strategies to maximise flexibility of operation;
- Develop ad-hoc Balance of Plant components for heat integration;
- Optimise heat re-use within the electrolysis plant and/or the integration of the plant with its environment (e.g. heat networks, industry);
Improve interaction with the electricity grid to perform grid services on command from the grid (e.g., utilising unexpected power production peaks from renewables, thanks to planning and optimisation tools that could benefit of utilising advanced methodologies such as predictive approach and real-time optimisation). Such tools should optimise the renewable coupling and/or heat integration, including on the basis of economic aspects; - Utilise emerging digital technologies to integrate electrolysers into a highly flexible and resilient energy system, in synergy with calls from Horizon Europe Cluster 5 and Clean Energy Transition partnership;
- Minimise power consumption in stand-by operation and ensure safe operation at high turn-down operation of the electrolyser;
- Provide improved plant designs of >50MW sites with design-inherent increased operating flexibility, providing higher levels of services to the electrical grid (e.g. capacity to absorb black outs from other sites) while better valorising heat, with concrete business cases on at least one plant with a commissioning date before 2030.
Projects should demonstrate developments for at least 6 months on plants in operation at least at the MW scale. Applicants may work on existing electrolyser installations where only the BoP would need to be adapted/modified or on electrolyser installations under development.
It is expected to have an electrolyser manufacturer in the consortium for this topic. In addition, it is encouraged to include a balance of plant manufacturer. Cooperation with renewable hydrogen production plant operators is also encouraged.
The costs for the construction and commissioning phase of the hydrogen production technology/ies maybe funded while costs related to the operation of the hydrogen production plant (e.g., electricity for electrolysers) will not be funded.
Proposals are expected to demonstrate the contribution to EU competitiveness and industrial leadership of the activities to be funded including but not limited to the origin of the equipment and components as well infrastructure purchased and built during the project. These aspects will be evaluated and monitored during the project implementation.
It is expected that Guarantees of origin (GOs) will be used to prove the renewable character of the hydrogen that is produced.
Proposals should provide a preliminary draft on ‘hydrogen safety planning and management’ at the project level, which will be further updated during project implementation.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
Expected EU contribution: €6.000.000
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Other Beneficiaries
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
EU Contact Point
Email: info@clean-hydrogen.europa.eu
Phone number: +32 22218148
Postal address: Avenue de la Toison d’Or 56-60, 1060 Brussels, Belgium