Project description
Showcasing hydrogen energy in a land of coal
Harnessing the sun’s light and water to produce hydrogen as a clean energy carrier stands in stark contrast to burning carbon-rich coal. The booming area of Stara Zagora is home to Maritsa East, one of the biggest power production complexes in Europe and Bulgaria’s largest emitter of CO2. To demonstrate the incredible potential of green hydrogen to improve air quality, reduce CO2 emissions, and generate economic benefits, the EU-funded ZAHYR project intends to install hydrogen technology in Stara Zagora. A hybrid hydrogen production facility powered by photovoltaic energy will combine electrolysis and ammonia cracking to provide stable hydrogen supply even when solar generation is low. This dual system reduces both intermittency and capital costs, offering a low-carbon, cost-effective alternative to fossil-based hydrogen.
Objective
The Zahyr Hydrogen Valley project aims to establish a fully integrated hydrogen ecosystem in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, aligning with the model of a small Hydrogen Valley focused on mobility and industrial applications. It will create a complete hydrogen value chain — from production to end use — based on a shared infrastructure designed to stimulate collaboration between private industry and public research institutions, while generating long-term technical, economic, social, and environmental benefits.
At its core, Zahyr features a hybrid hydrogen production facility combining electrolysis and ammonia cracking technologies. The initial phase will deploy an electrolyzer (150 kg/day) and an ammonia cracker (125 kg/day), powered by photovoltaic energy. In later phases, the cracker capacity will be expanded to 1,500 kg/day, achieving a total of 1,650 kg/day. This hybrid setup ensures a stable hydrogen supply even during periods of low solar generation, while introducing innovative materials for ammonia storage and transport that push the boundaries of current technological standards.
The project leverages Stara Zagora’s regional advantages, including high solar irradiance and proximity to Bulgaria’s largest fertilizer producer, which secures a steady ammonia supply. This dual system reduces both intermittency and capital costs, offering a low-carbon, cost-effective alternative to fossil-based hydrogen. By optimizing existing infrastructure and aligning with key EU policies — such as the European Hydrogen Strategy, REPowerEU, and the Green Deal — Zahyr contributes directly to Europe’s Net-Zero transition and the scaling up of the hydrogen economy.
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.
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy hydrogen energy
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Keywords
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.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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.
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
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.
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-JU-IA - HORIZON JU Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022-2
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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.
8010 Graz
Austria
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.