PilgrHYm aims to contribute to the decarbonization of the energy sector by providing a European roadmap with comprehensive guidelines to assess the feasibility of safely and efficiently integrating pure H2 into existing natural gas infrastructure.
This project has received co-funding from the European Commission and the Clean Hydrogen Partnership under Grant Agreement No 101137592. This Partnership receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation program, Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research.
The Consortium
GRTgaz
GRTgaz is a European leader in NG transmission and a world expert in gas systems. In France, the company operates more than 32,000 km of buried pipelines to transport gas from suppliers to consumers connected to its network. Within GRTgaz, the Research & Innnovation Center for Energy (RICE) is the division dedicated to R&D in Research, Development, and Innovation for gas infrastructure. GRTgaz-RICE provides tested and proven industrial applications, as well as technical offers based on the development and the sharing of innovative ideas, scientific knowledge and technical expertise developed within the framework of the gas infrastructure, covering 3 main areas:
1) Energy transition, including Hydrogen and New methane, and methane emission reduction;
2) Optimisation of existing asset;
3) Safety.
CEA LITEN
CEA-Liten is a major European research institute and a driving force behind the development of the sustainable energy technologies of the future. The institute is dedicated to the energy transition and is spearheading the EU’s efforts to limit dependency on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in three key areas: renewable energy, energy efficiency/storage and development of materials. The Liten and its ecosystem innovate with the objective of creating value and transferring it to industry and the economic world. Its activities focus on several key areas: solar energy, smart grid management, batteries storage and hydrogen with the view to improving energy efficiency and circular economy approach.
ENAGAS
ENAGAS is a Spanish energy company which is certified as an independent TSO by the European Union. It is the Technical Manager of the System in Spain which owns and operates the nation’s gas grid. The Spanish company has over 12.000km pipelines, about 8 LNG terminals and 3 underground storage facilities, and is present in 8 countries. ENAGAS is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. To this end, it has outlined a decarbonisation pathway with emission reduction targets aligned with the 1.5ºC temperature increase scenario. ENAGAS’ sustainability roadmap is based on: Decarbonisation of the company’s infrastructure, Decarbonisation of the gas sector and Offsetting of residual emissions.
FHa
FLUXYS
Fluxys is a Belgium-based TSO company with nearly a century of experience in gas transmission and transport. Fluxys is committed to continue building a cleaner energy future for generations to come. With their infrastructure energy is put in motion – in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. The company transports natural gas and is ready to transport hydrogen, biomethane and any other low-carbon energy carriers, as well as CO2, all in an ongoing effort to support carbon capture, reuse and storage. Fluxys wants to be the key infrastructure partner for accelerating the transition from fossil to renewable, and is building the necessary infrastructure with passion, plenty of ambition and an open mind for what the future will bring.
Fraunhofer IWM
The Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials (IWM) is a European application-oriented research organization funded in 1949 and currently operating 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany with over 30,000 employees. The Institute for Mechanics of Materials (IWM) is the research and development (R&D) centre that provides know-how and technology on materials for project partners and a R&D partner for industry and public contracting bodies on topics related to component and systems reliability, safety, durability and functionality. The institute combines know-how and experience in all fields of materials technology and materials science. Within the scope of Materials Design, Manufacturing Processes, Tribology, Component Safety and Lightweight Construction and Assessment of Materials, Lifetime Concepts, we offer clients and project partners individual solutions, unexpected insights and immediately actionable results for the development, production and application of functional materials, high-performance components and resource efficient manufacturing processes.
GERG
GERG (The European Gas Research Group) is the European Association representing the collaborative R&D needs of the European Gas Industry. Along with its member organisations, GERG works with the European energy community to develop innovative solutions connecting European gas infrastructure to the evolving energy system. GERG coordinates corresponding efforts of its members on an EU level and membership includes TSOs, DSOs, major NG suppliers, universities, and international research institutes, as well as international standardisation organisations. GERG partners with related organisations globally to ensure international alignment of its work and maximum effectiveness of its programmes. Moreover, GERG has experience leading Dissemination and Communication activities in several EU projects.
ocas
OCAS (OnderzoeksCentrum voor de Aanwending van Staal) is an advanced, market-oriented research centre providing steel and metal-based products, services and solutions to metal processing companies worldwide. OCAS is a daughter company of FINOCAS and ArcelorMittal Belgium, FINOCAS being a joint-venture between the Flemish Region and ArcelorMittal Belgium. Within ArcelorMittal, OCAS is in charge of all ArcelorMittal R&D projects within the market of general industry for flat carbon steel. OCAS is equipped with state-of-the-art R&D tools and facilities in its laboratories in Zelzate and Gent-Zwijnaarde (Belgium). The research centre valorizes know-how by product and solution development. OCAS has a highly qualified team of over 140 researchers and engineers with an international orientation. The laboratories have a unique range of state-of-the-art analysis and simulation tools, and even a complete lab scale steel production line. All activities are supported by a state-of-the-art material characterization and testing laboratory, with unique facilities in coating, metal characterization and processing tools.
TECNALIA
TECNALIA is the largest private applied research and technological development centre in Spain, a benchmark in Europe and a member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance. TECNALIA works with companies and institutions to improve their competitiveness, the quality of people’s lives and to achieve sustainable growth. Its main areas of activity are: Smart Manufacturing, Digital Transformation, Energy Transition, Health and Food, Sustainable Mobility, Circular Economy and Urban Ecosystem. TECNALIA has been working in the field of hydrogen for more than 20 years, developing innovative technologies and providing high value-added services that cover the entire hydrogen value chain. Among others, TECNALIA works on materials compatibility with hydrogen, hydrogen safety, electrolysers, membrane reactors for hydrogen production and purification, process modelling for H2 systems, H2 mobility applications and H2 combustion technologies.
SINTEF
SINTEF is one of Europe’s largest research institutes and an independent foundation which, since 1950, has created innovation through development and research assignments for business and the public sector at home and abroad. Its purpose is to contribute to the development of society by carrying out research in the natural sciences, technology (including construction and civil engineering), and health and social sciences in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
SNAM
SNAM is one of the world’s leading energy infrastructure companies. A leading operator in natural gas transport, SNAM has a network of approximately 38,000 km in Italy and abroad. leading operator in natural gas transport, with a network of approximately 38,000 km in Italy and abroad. With its 80 years of experience in the construction and management of infrastructure, SNAM ensures supply security and promotes the energy transition through investments in green gases (biomethane and hydrogen), energy efficiency and CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) technology.
UBU
The University of Burgos is a Spanish public university recognized among the best young universities in the world, which develops its mission based on comprehensive and quality teaching, very close to the student and focused on internationalization, as well as promoting quality research under 96 research teams. In relation to the capabilities and possibilities around hydrogen, the University has a state-of-the-art Hydrogen Technologies Laboratory (H2-Lab), which has the necessary equipment to study the behaviour of materials in H2 environments and the susceptibility to embrittlement of various alloys. In addition to testing, numerical models and predictive tools are developed for hydrogen-related technologies. As part of its teaching activity, the University of Burgos offers an on-line “Master’s Degree in Hydrogen Technologies”, whose main characteristic is the participation of more than 30 companies, technology centres and universities, bringing a panel of professionals from the H2 sector of the highest level.
