SERVICES FOR HYDROGEN INNOVATION FACILITATION AND TESTING

Project Information

H2SHIFT

Grant agreement ID: 101137953

DOI

10.3030/101137953

EC signature date 15 December 2023

Start date 1 March 2024

End date 29 February 2028

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 9 102 035,83

EU contribution

€ 7 211 180,45

Coordinated by

SNAM SPA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - H2SHIFT (SERVICES FOR HYDROGEN INNOVATION FACILITATION AND TESTING)

Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The European Union’s strategic vision for a climate-neutral economy by 2050, places clean hydrogen at the core of its decarbonisation agenda. The strategy sets ambitious targets: by 2030, the EU aims to produce 10 million tonnes (Mt) and import an additional 10 Mt of renewable hydrogen, supported by the deployment of 40 GW of electrolyser capacity—20 GW within the EU and 20 GW in neighbouring regions.
Achieving the 2030 targets requires not only the expansion of existing technologies but also the acceleration of innovation in emerging and lower Technology Readiness Level (TRL) solutions. These include:
• Less mature electrolysis technologies, such as High Temperature and Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolysis (AEMEL);
• Low TRL hydrogen production routes, including direct solar water splitting and offshore wind-powered electrolysis;
• Alternative feedstocks, such as biogas, biomethane, and bioethanol.
The H2SHIFT project—Services for Hydrogen Innovation Facilitation and Testing—is designed to accelerate the development, validation, and market readiness of innovative hydrogen production technologies, in alignment with the European Union’s hydrogen strategy and the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). The project’s overarching ambition is to establish a European-wide Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) that enables the emergence of next-generation hydrogen production pathways that are efficient, cost-effective, and scalable. To this end, H2SHIFT is creating a coordinated network of laboratories and test lines, managed through a Single Entry Point (SEP), to provide technical and non-technical services to technology developers, with a strong emphasis on supporting startups and SMEs.
The project also investigates, tests, assesses, and upscales emerging hydrogen production technologies identified in the SRIA, offering comprehensive 360º support services for startups and SMEs—including prototyping, upscaling, circularity, sustainability, and business development—to help advance technologies from TRL3 to TRL8. Finally, H2SHIFT is committed to crafting impactful narratives that demonstrate the value and relevance of the OITB, linking the stories of supported startups and SMEs to measurable outcomes and impact indicators. This approach is central to the project’s dissemination and exploitation strategy and is designed to foster public acceptance and ensure long-term sustainability.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP2: In the first 16 months of the project, the Single-Entry Point (SEP) was created, providing a legal and managerial structure and organization for the H2Shift project. The legal form selected is an internal consortium, in which all members bear their own responsibilities, and no additional revenues or funds can be created. Building on this legal structure, a governance model was created and implemented to regulate the processes, roles, and responsibilities of all consortium members internally and externally. Moreover, a stakeholder and ecosystem map and a KPI dashboard were set up to track the involvement of stakeholders of interest and the progress throughout the H2Shift project.

WP3: In the first 16M of the project, WP3 developed firstly the analysis of the current hydrogen strategies and actions implemented at national and international levels, generating a database of hydrogen policies by geographical area, development stage and sector to help identify the targets and instruments for the innovation in the field of hydrogen processes and technologies (deliverable D3.1). Then, WP3 focused on the analysis of the profile of the main users of the Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) by survey (deliverable D3.2) and analyzing the needs identified. The results of D3.2 were used as input for comparing the current experimental facilities available with the target users' needs and profiles identified, to assess the upgrade or up-scale actions that will be required on each TL to meet the respective targets (deliverable D3.4). Finally, WP3 developed a first general structure of the OITB Business Plan and to identify the relevant information that will be required to formulate the Plan and the Strategy for the project (deliverable D3.3). The final Business Plan and Strategy will be elaborated based on this starting structure throughout the project and progressively until the end of the project.

WP4: During this period, WP4 concentrated on preparing five technological showcases to validate innovative hydrogen production solutions under real operating conditions. The work included defining the technical requirements, adapting the test lines and coordinating among partners to plan the validation activities for diverse technologies such as 3D-printed SOEC, a 100 kW AEM electrolyser, electric-steam methane reformer, methanol reformer with PSA, and an industrial deployment design.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

TECHNOLOGICAL IMPACT:
The H2SHIFT project proposed the creation of the Single Entry Point (SEP), the legal entity that acts as first contact point to potential users and grant access to advanced infrastructure , in-depth ecosystem analysis and tracking sheet of all tangible results (KPI dashboard).

SCIENTIFIC IMPACT:
During the first 16 months of the project, all test line infrastructures were assessed and mapped to identify their current capabilities and the necessary upgrades. Infrastructure enhancement activities have commenced across all test lines.

ECONOMIC IMPACT:
H2SHIFT has launched a network of test infrastructures to validate and scale hydrogen technologies in industrially relevant settings, including alternative electrolysis methods, diverse feedstocks, and renewable power sources. This approach accelerates the technological and market readiness of low-carbon hydrogen solutions developed by startups and SMEs. Through platforms like HyAccelerator, it fosters innovation aligned with circular economy principles. This contributes directly to Europe’s climate neutrality goals.

SOCIETAL IMPACT:
In the first 16 months, H2SHIFT mapped the regulatory and policy landscape for hydrogen, producing a comprehensive database and identifying strategic gaps to guide innovation and investment. Deliverable 3.1 reviewed international, EU, and national frameworks, supporting better policy alignment for low-carbon hydrogen.