FME HyValue - Norwegian centre for hydrogen value chain research

The NORCE-led center, HyValue, will develop knowledge, methodology, and innovative solutions for hydrogen energy carriers. HyValue is a Centre for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME), and is awarded NOK 15 million annually for 8 years, from the Research Council of Norway.

Building on Norwegian comparative advantages, HyValue aims to develop knowledge, methodology and innovative solutions for hydrogen energy carriers to build and support a competitive hydrogen energy sector. HyValue addresses five grand challenges related to development of a competitive Norwegian hydrogen energy sector:

1. How can we produce hydrogen and ammonia with minimum energy loss and at a lower cost?
2. How can we create a safe and resilient transport and distribution system for hydrogen-based fuels?
3. How can we develop end-user applications for hydrogen-based energy carriers?
4. How can we stimulate investments and build systems with acceptable risk for all stakeholders?
5. How can we build public trust and confidence in a hydrogen economy?

HyValue will be lead by NORCE. Research partners are the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), the Institute of Transport Economics (TØI), Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), Centre for Applied Research, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), University of Bergen (UiB), University of Stavanger (UiS), and internasjonale research partners: Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), Imperial College London (ICL), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Monash University (Monash U), Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). In addition, there are partners from the industry, as well as regulative bodies.

Hydrogen plays a key role in Norway’s low emission strategy, in the European Green Deal, and in Europe’s clean energy transition. According to the hydrogen strategy of the European Commission, hydrogen is expected to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions ahead of 2030 and to be a key building block towards a climate-neutral and zero pollution economy in 2050. The Norwegian Government’s hydrogen strategy serves to drive the development of new low emission technologies and solutions, supporting EU ambitions.

To boost hydrogen related research and development, a call for a new Environmentally Friendly Energy Research centre (FME) on hydrogen was issued in 2021. The purpose of the FME shall be to coordinate and increase the research efforts on hydrogen and hydrogen‐based energy carriers (including ammonia) and accelerate the development of competitive technologies and solutions for production and use of hydrogen and hydrogen‐based energy carriers.

FMEs are driven by industry needs and receive funding for an 8-year period (5+3 yrs). FMEs shall address climate and energy challenges and contribute to business development. The awarded funding is to strengthen the knowledge base required to develop a competitive Norwegian industry.

Goals

A transition to hydrogen-based fuels can only be achieved through a holistic development covering technical solutions, economic incentives, regulatory frameworks, societal and environmental impact, and safety.

HyValue will (1) explore methods for hydrogen and ammonia production, targeting novel technologies with potential for significant increase in energy efficiency and corresponding cost reduction; (2) exploit and develop solutions for transport, storage and filling/bunkering of hydrogen-based fuels; (3) analyze maritime value chains and study how regulations and economic incentives can be designed to avoid barriers and promote business models for hydrogen-based fuels; (4) investigate hazard potential and technical safety in hydrogen and ammonia value chains; and (5) frame the technology development and business models in a societal embeddedness context and document the emission of greenhouse gases for hydrogen and ammonia value chains.

HyValue will provide knowledge, methods and tools that can enable development of profitable products and services. HyValue will further increase the national and international competitiveness on hydrogen-based solutions for implementation in society, with maritime application as the main driver, thereby playing an important role in achieving national and international strategic goals for an environmentally sustainable society.