Project description
Safely repurposing pipelines for Europe’s hydrogen future
Steel pipes that have traditionally been used to transport and distribute natural gas can be a feasible option for hydrogen transport. However, these pipes are prone to hydrogen embrittlement, which can result in premature failure. This poses challenges for repurposing the pipes for hydrogen delivery, an essential process that would enable decarbonisation. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SHARP project aims to develop a multiscale modelling framework to predict and mitigate material degradation. It will bridge atomic-scale simulations with continuum mechanics in order to show how hydrogen interacts with crystal defects, triggering cracks. The findings are in line with the safe, cost-effective transition to sustainable energy.
Objective
The safe repurposing of existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport is a key enabler of the EU’s decarbonization strategy. However, legacy pipeline steels are vulnerable to hydrogen embrittlement (HE), which can lead to premature fracture under service conditions. This project aims to develop a predictive, multiscale modeling framework that bridges first-principles calculations, atomistic simulations, and continuum mechanics to understand and mitigate HE in pipeline materials. Density Functional Theory (DFT) will be used to quantify hydrogen interactions at crystal defects such as vacancies, dislocations, and grain boundaries. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations will capture crack initiation and defect evolution under hydrogen exposure. These atomistic insights will be integrated into Finite Element Method (FEM) models for hydrogen diffusion and stress-assisted damage accumulation. The models will be validated against in-house bicrystal experiments involving hydrogen charging and fracture characterization. The project also emphasizes interoperability and reproducibility through open science practices. By combining computational and experimental approaches, it aims to deliver transferable parameters, validated mechanistic insights, and tools that support alloy design, risk assessment, and lifetime prediction in hydrogen infrastructure. The outcomes will be disseminated through publications, workshops, and industry-academic networks including the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. This work directly supports EU goals for climate neutrality and safe energy transitions.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
17031 La Rochelle
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.