PilgrHYm reached the stage of the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Conference 2026 (𝗘𝗙𝗖𝗛₂ 2026), held in Capri, Italy, on September 16, to showcase the results of the interlaboratory comparison of the Round Robin Tests. Ludovico Mazzocco, Project Officer at GERG – The European Gas Research Group, offered this update to experts and stakeholders who attended the conference to explain how PilgrHYm is contributing to the safe repurposing of gas pipelines for hydrogen.
The presentation analysed the results obtained from the interlaboratory comparison of the Round Robin Tests (RRT), focusing on the outcomes from the Slow Strain Rate Tests. Then, the following steps of the project were explained, including finishing the rest of the interlaboratory tests from the Round Robin Tests (Hollow Specimen Tensile Testing and Fracture Toughness) and starting with the Fatigue Crack Growth tests.
After this update, the presentation focused on giving an overview of the project. First, the materials selected to run the RRT were explained; materials representative of the European natural gas transmission network of steel pipelines. Second, it was explained how PilgrHYm is identifying the key mechanical properties needed to assess the compatibility of existing European gas pipelines with hydrogen. Last, the presentation highlighted the main basis of PilgrHYm’s work investigating how mitigation techniques might limit hydrogen uptake, and how the consortium will create guidelines that can support the revision or development of European standards.
By bringing together infrastructure data, material testing, numerical modelling and mitigation strategies, PilgrHYm is building an evidence base for assessing the conditions under which existing gas transmission infrastructure could be repurposed for pure hydrogen. The results will ultimately support TSOs, technology developers, researchers and standardisation stakeholders in the transition towards hydrogen-ready gas n
