Project description
Using hydrogen to balance the power grid
Europe is rapidly expanding wind and solar power, but weather and season variability make their handling difficult for power grids. At the same time, green hydrogen will be essential in Europe’s future decarbonised energy system. The EU-funded SURFER project turns hydrogen electrolysers into a flexible energy tool. Instead of having them operate at constant load, SURFER will demonstrate that electrolysers can safely and rapidly adjust their electricity use to support the grid. In doing so, they will help balance renewable generation while producing cheaper renewable hydrogen. This approach will allow more renewable electricity to be integrated, improve grid stability and optimise the use of existing infrastructure, supporting Europe’s transition towards climate neutrality.
Objective
The SURFER project aims to facilitate the widespread deployment of variable renewable energy sources (VRES) by demonstrating the use of flexible electrolysers as dynamic energy buffers and stabilise multiple types of energy networks, focusing primarily on power grids, but also considering heat valorisation and isolated or weak grids. SURFER will validate the capabilities of PEMEL, AEL and SOEL electrolysers to rapidly modulate their operation to accommodate fluctuations in renewable energy supply, grid demand and waste heat when available. Through multiple demonstrations across diverse European sites, including operational environments in France, Germany, and Norway, the project will improve the integration of these electrolyser technologies into the energy system. The partners will be the first in the world to provide grid services with electrolysis plants.
To achieve these objectives, the partners will demonstrate the dynamic operational flexibility of electrolysis plants, understand and model their dynamic behaviours, innovate power electronics for improved responsiveness, integrate these plants effectively into energy grids, simplify the RFNBO certification processes, while ensuring rigorous safety standards under dynamic operational conditions, and reducing the LCOH for wider access to renewable hydrogen.
SURFER's multi-disciplinary consortium of leading research institutions, (hydrogen) industry experts, and grid operators will address the complexities of electrolyser dynamics and energy system integration, significantly advancing beyond the state-of-the-art. SURFER will enable electrolysis plants to make additional revenues from power grid stabilising, also making the latter more resilient and decarbonised with increased VRES penetration and maximisation of their use. The project will improve energy security and drive down costs thanks to additional sources of revenues and heat integration, thus supporting Europe's energy transition goals.
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 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electrical engineering power engineering electric power transmission
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-JU-CLEANH2-2025
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
7034 Trondheim
Norway
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.