Hydrogen as a Clean Energy Vector
In a world urgently seeking sustainable alternatives to tackle the climate crisis, hydrogen emerges as one of the most promising candidates to replace fossil fuels. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and holds immense potential as a clean energy vector to store and transport energy produced by renewable and sustainable means like wind and solar. When used, whether in fuel cells to produce electricity or industrial processes, its only emission is water, making it an ideal alternative for reducing the carbon footprint. However, the efficient production and use of hydrogen present significant technical and economic challenges, requiring intensive research and development.
The UPC Hydrogen Lab: A Center of Excellence
In this context, the Hydrogen Laboratory at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC Hydrogen Lab) plays a crucial role in driving research and development of hydrogen technologies for a cleaner future. The hydrogen living lab producing real-world data on green hydrogen production through its pilot plant at the UPC, located on the Diagonal-Besòs Campus, is leading European infrastructures dedicated to developing new hydrogen-based technologies. These facilities aim to provide technical support and conduct durability tests for industry, while also showcasing the latest technological innovations in hydrogen, both for the business sector and the academic world.
The 340 m² lab is equipped with a pilot plant that enables local, sustainable, and modular production of hydrogen and electricity. This plant is installed on the rooftop of Building C at the Diagonal-Besòs Campus, allowing the laboratory to operate its own microgrid to optimize energy consumption and production.
Initially, the plant can generate over 13 kW of maximum electrical power from 24 solar panels, 5 kW for the microgrid through fuel cells, and a daily production of 6 kg of hydrogen, with a storage capacity of 17 kg at 300 bar pressure. In the future, the capacity is expected to expand to 40 kW of maximum electrical power, 10 kW for the microgrid, and a daily production of 40 kg of hydrogen, with a storage capacity of 34 kg at 300 bar.
The lab features advanced equipment, including four test stations for small-scale devices (in the range of watts), four stations for medium-sized devices (up to 1 kW), four stations for medium/large equipment (up to 10 kW each), and a 3×3 m² environmental chamber designed to test systems under extreme conditions, with temperatures ranging from -40°C to 85°C and a maximum power capacity of up to 100 kW.
This unique infrastructure has been funded with a grant from the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya, which financed 50% of the pilot plant’s eligible budget, valued at over two million euros.
The creation of this one-of-a-kind laboratory and pilot plant in the country is part of a growing interest in hydrogen technologies, particularly for decarbonizing industry and transportation. In recent years, the UPC has secured around six million euros in funding for hydrogen-related projects. Additionally, in 2022, the university established the Specific Center for Hydrogen Research (CER-H2), bringing together over 40 researchers from eleven different research groups in this field.
Among the most innovative projects being developed through CER-H2 are those focused on developing new liquid hydrogen storage systems, transforming it into synthetic liquid fuels for aviation, or creating bimetallic catalysts for producing green and blue hydrogen.
Furthermore, the lab is designing hydrogen fuel cells for hybrid electric vehicles (to convert hydrogen into electricity without combustion, thus paving the way for zero-emission hydrogen electric vehicles) and intelligent hydrogen combustion systems to decarbonize industrial sectors such as glass manufacturing, cement production, steelmaking, and ceramics. The lab is also exploring hydrogen’s use as a chemical product in ammonia production, aiming to produce it sustainably through green hydrogen, thus avoiding the pollutant emissions associated with gray hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas.
These initiatives reflect the UPC’s commitment to the transition towards a more sustainable economy, based on hydrogen as a clean energy source. The impact of this research extends beyond the academic realm, with significant implications for industry and society, contributing to decarbonization and the development of a low-carbon economy. With these facilities, the UPC positions itself as a key player in the development of the green hydrogen ecosystem in Southern Europe.
The services offered by the laboratory are now available and can be found at the following link.
