CIDAUT participates in the sustainability roadmap of the automotive ecosystem of Castilla y León.

The Automotive Cluster of Castilla y León, FaCyL, as part of the activities programmed by the Think Tank ‘Retos de Futuro de la Automoción de Castilla y León’ of the sectorial brand Polo de la Automoción, brought together around twenty experts on June 8. The objective was to share knowledge and develop a strategic vision on the roadmap for the sustainability of this ecosystem on the occasion of the celebration of Environment Day. This collaborative activity seeks to draw a strategic path for companies in the community in this area.

CIDAUT’s participation, led by José Ignacio Domínguez, from the Energy and Environment area, provided the vision of a technology centre with extensive experience in the automotive sector. Sustainability is one of the key lines of research, both from the point of view of the circular economy of the materials used, and from the perspective of efficiency and zero emissions from the propulsion systems of battery electric and hydrogen fuel cells vehicles. This activity provided an insight into how automotive companies in the autonomous community are facing the challenges involved in adapting to the manufacturing process of new vehicle models that are more environmentally friendly. In addition, the dynamic has also made it possible to exchange experiences on how companies see the new mobility and what actions can be developed to achieve a better understanding between all the actors involved in this challenge.

CIDAUT Hydrogen projects were showed in ‘Iknowledge – Forum of technology centers’

El Batel Auditorium and Conference Center hosted, on October 4 and 5, a forum of European technology centers: the ‘Iknowledge – Forum of technology centers’, organized by the Murcia Region Development Institute. Cartagena became the epicenter of the technology sector, bringing together more than 200 of these professionals and the main technology centers. Experts from all over Europe traveled to Cartagena to present the latest technological developments and trends within the themes: Smart & connected devices, Collaborative robotics & advanced industrial automation, Immersive experiences: metaverse technologies, Web 3.0… and Energy transition, Climate change & Sustainability.

CIDAUT has participated in Challenge 4 (energy transition) showing the main capacities in the hydrogen sector in its three main aspects: production, distribution and use. In addition, the projects in which CIDAUT is immersed were shared with the rest of the centers, such as: design of innovative renewable electrolysis systems, design and testing of non-conventional fuel cells, hydrogen compression systems for very high pressures or definition and testing of hydrogen-based combustion systems. Bilateral meetings also took place to identify partners for future projects, technological and research cooperation, as well as a technology fair and a project exhibition space.

The MEDUSA 300-Phase I project successfully reaches one of its most relevant milestones

Last 27th October 2021, the follow-up meeting of the MEDUSA 300 Phase I Project took place in the offices of the General Sub-Directorate for Planning, Technology and Innovation (SDG PLATIN) of the Ministry of Defence. The members of the MEDUSA Joint Venture, together with their collaborator the Fluid Physics Laboratory of the UNED, satisfactorily presented the results achieved related to the scaling, the optimisation of components and the design of 1 kW technological demonstrators. MEDUSA Joint Venture is a temporary union of companies constituted by the CIDAUT Foundation and JALVASUB Engineering to carry out the Phase I of the MEDUSA 300 Project.

The milestone reached is of great importance for the development of the next phases of the Project. It means having demonstrated the national technological and industrial capacity required to start, with all the guarantees and without risk, the manufacture of the PEM fuel cell demonstrators. This demonstration is intended to be on the real scale required for the S-80 submarine and with functional features achieved that even exceed those specified in the project.

This project will develop the fuel cell system for the AIP S-80 Spanish submarines, which will be based on the innovative design of the ULPHE-PEM (Ultra-Light Platinum Content High Efficient- PEM Fuel Cell). The ULPHE-PEM fuel cell is a new generation of polymeric fuel cells, which can operate both at low and high temperatures, and which is based on a completely Spanish-patented technology, more efficient and with lower weight, volume, and cost than those presently existing on the market.

CIDAUT attends several hydrogen events in Brussels

Hydrogen is an essential key in Europe’s energy transition and its efforts to cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change.  It is therefore expected to play an important role in the European Commission’s Green Deal. The FCH sector is also a valuable source of future jobs and growth in a green economy and CIDAUT is focused on this strategy.

Different events have taken place in Brussels at the end of November in relation to hydrogen technologies and fuel cells. CIDAUT had the opportunity to be there.

Programme Review Days 2019

The Programme Review Days (PRD) 2019 took place on the 19th and 20th of November in Brussels preceding the FCH JU Stakeholder Forum on the 21st of November

The Programme Review Days, organised annually, aims to provide an overview on the progress of the FCH JU funded projects. It constitutes an excellent visibility platform for the projects and the technological developments achieved in the sector and provides networking opportunities for the participants.

A number of 27 projects and 3 studies as well as other FCH JU initiatives, were featured this year, gathered around the following main sessions: Hydrogen for Sectoral Integration, Fuel Cell Applications for Energy, Fuel Cell Applications for Transport and Support for Market Uptake.

FCH JU Awards 2019

The Awards were presented at a ceremony at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels on 20 November 2019, attended by about 300 industry, research and EU representatives. The winners were chosen by public vote, which mobilised the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen community around the 24 nominees – 12 for each category (success stories and innovation).

This year’s Best Success Story, ‘Driving forward fuel cell technologies’, is looking at a series of projects (VOLUMETRIQ, INSPIRE, CRESCENDO, GAIA and PEGASUS) which are making fuel cells more affordable and competitive.

“These projects are delivering results that enable Europe to be a leader in the fuel cell technology and have a strong impact on the clean energy transition. The aim is to pry open market potential, ensuring a greener future for the EU’s transport sector” said FCH JU’s Executive Director Bart Biebuyck.

BIG HIT project was presented with a special award for Best Outreach Hydrogen achievements in Scotland (Orkney Islands).

Stakeholder Forum 2019

“The green energy transition is not an option but a necessity. I see a pivotal role for clean hydrogen…it is an area where Europe is still leading. Why not extend the lead on something that could be one of the most important solutions for clean energy?” said Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission, in the opening session of the 2019 Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) Stakeholder Forum, on 21st November. ‘The most important thing is that you help us to find ways to make relatively quick successes to show people that it works’ continued Timmermans,” addressing the forum – energy and climate experts from industry, research, EU institutions and local and regional authorities.

Discussions among more than 500 Forum participants in Brussels’ Charlemagne building focused on how to tackle the remaining hurdles to deployment, the importance of promoting an innovation culture in activating new markets, and the impact of synergies and international scale-up efforts on growth and jobs. Delegates explored the latest developments in the sector, showing how Europe is capitalising on new FCH developments and forging ahead towards a zero-emission economy.

Participants could also download the event app to stay up date with the conference programme and also join us on social media by following @fch_ju on Twitter – #PRD2019 #SF2019 #CleanHydrogen.

S3P HYDROGEN VALLEYS Working Groups

And to close the week, CIDAUT attended the meetings organized by the S3P Hydrogen Valleys working groups that took place on Friday the 22th November.

The working groups have been organized based on themes that arouse common interests for the development of interregional projects. Thus, CIDAUT as a representative and supporting the region of Castilla y León attended the meetings of the Hydrogen Production, Transportation and Storage groups, as well as Mobility uses. The objective of these groups is the approach of projects in the different themes that can be presented at the Hyvolution event that will take place on February 4 in Paris. CIDAUT will co-coordinate Production working group with Aragon Hydrogen Foundation and University of Bologna.

CIDAUT continues its development in hydrogen technologies

On May 17th, CIDAUT had the pleasure of attending to the International Sustainable Mobility Forum (FIMS) in Entroncamento (Portugal) in such an incomparable setting as the National Railway Museum. CIDAUT participated as a speaker in the meeting entitled Hydrogen-based emission-less mobility and transportation solutions

This forum aims to promote a meeting of the supply and demand of innovative hydrogen and fuel cell solutions in transport systems in the context of emissions-free mobility. The event brought together suppliers of technology solutions, industry, transport management entities and fleet owners, urban planners, land managers and decision makers – among others – promoting mutual updating on opportunities and challenges related to the use of hydrogen. Hydrogen ecosystems, such as production, storage, distribution, refueling and end-use, are presented through innovative pilot projects carried out in the context of European projects and strategies.

The forum “Hydrogen-based Low Carbon Transport and Mobility Solutions” aims to present functional options in the area of hydrogen and fuel cells demonstrated in European cities and regions, present innovative technological solutions and discuss methodologies to accelerate the deployment and implementation of hydrogen and technologies in the mobility and transport sectors.

It was attended by the Secretary of State for Mobility Protuguese, José Mendes, as well as representatives of the regional authorities of Medio Tejo and Cities, regions, Hydrogen and fuel cell associations, investors, industry, mobility and other stakeholders with a keen interest in the hydrogen sector and its outcomes and interested to learn more about the local Hydrogen Clusters and willing to develop partnerships.

Continuing with the European events on Hydrogen, CIDAUT also attended on June 25th the kick-off meeting of the Intelligent Platform S3 European Hydrogen Valleys Partnership held in Brussels. CIDAUT was invited by the Regional Energy Agency (EREN). This platform is established in Normandy, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Northen, Netherlands and Aragon, and aims to strengthen interregional cooperation across the EU on S3 common areas to co-develop investment projects for the modernization of the European industry.

During the meeting there was an introduction of the Partnership mission, after which there was a round of presentation of the present regions in the kick-off meeting and their interest in hydrogen technologies. Finally, a presentation of the analysis of the preliminary mapping questionnaires was made which will sent to the different regions whose results and it will be presented at the next meeting to be held on October 15th.

This event was held coinciding with the celebration of the H2020 Energy Infodays that took place from June 24th to 26th. CIDAUT attended on June 26th where the topics on Research, Innovation and Market uptake projects on Clean Energy were presented.