Trondheim, 3-4 June 2026 – After few months from the beginning of the project, H2SCORE’s partners join again to discuss activities planning and first steps at the meeting hosted by NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway. At this stage the main focus is on H2SCORE conceptual design and site preparation, including permitting and safety aspects. In addition, technology specification for both low-temperature and high-temperature systems are other key steps as well as the technical coordination of all subsystems.

Since the beginning, Engreen, the company responsible for the H2SCORE conceptual design and demo site configuration, worked on the final layout to install and operate the different systems: the low-temperature system with PEM technology and metal hydride storage, the rSOC and the gasifier. The goal is to find a suitable area where the demonstration site could be kept and operated even beyond the end of the project. Therefore, having a clear technical description of all technologies is important to finalise the demo layout and to address similarly the permitting and safety analysis, the control architecture and the modelling activities similarly.

Focusing on the low-temperature system, its configuration includes containerised system integrating the PEM electrolyser, metal hydride storage, PEM fuel cell and related balance of plant components. BluEnergy Revolution explains that the system will be designed as an integrated power-to-hydrogen-to-power solution, with attention to safety, permitting, thermal integration and interaction with the local energy infrastructure (e.g. district heating, local energy grid and electrical cabinets). Meantime, it will be central to pay attention to the hydrogen quality requirements, especially in relation to the interaction between the electrolyser, storage and fuel cell; BluEnergy Revolution and Zeppelin Power Systems will also focus on the monitoring and control architecture of the low-temperature system, discussed as a cross-cutting topic depending on the overall engineering system.

When it comes to the reversible SOC system, expected to operate in both fuel cell and electrolysis mode, H2B2 is working on the design preparation, process and instrumentation diagrams and preliminary line lists, which will support the mechanical and electrical engineering work. Initially, the rSOC system will operate using hydrogen and, in the second phase, with syngas from biomass gasification. For this reason, the consortium will monitor the exhaust stream and will evaluate the use of afterburner or catalytic burner to avoid emissions of unreacted fuel and simplify the emissions measurement campaign.

Specific focus was also made on the gasifier and syngas cleaning concept: the system is based on biomass gasification using air, producing a hydrogen-containing syngas composed mainly of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, light hydrocarbons and nitrogen. The consortium is evaluating specific technical requirements such as the gasifier size and the syngas flow rate in order to match the rSOC demand. Other important aspects are the biomass origin and quality, for which local woodchip and other biomass types (e.g. local waste biomass) are considered on the basis of some key parameters, especially the moisture content. Overall, the first steps were taken to set up the demonstration site, which will follow a specific plan to assess different operation phases in different seasons reaching up to 3000 testing hours. With respect to the above-mentioned activities environmental impacts measurement is also a complementary activity, performed by VTT through emissions analysis and LCA. It will start since the design phase, where PEMFC and rSOC exhaust streams will be monitored.

Parallel to the technological activities, the social acceptance and risk perception represent the main social topics to analyse. Taking advantages from previous experience with surveys and public acceptance studies on hydrogen technologies, partner NTNU will replicate them in H2SCORE’s project to explore differences in community perceptions among the real-life use cases in Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Canada. First survey and stakeholder engagement activity were performed during the launch public event last Febraury 2026 in Quarona: the outcome confirmed general interest and support from local stakeholders, while also highlighting the need for clear communication, transparent information and visible local benefits. Considering these survey’s results and the achievement of its own visual identity, H2SCORE is now ready to start the communication and the stakeholder engagement activities enabling the creation of a solid networking composed of organisations and communities with whom collaborate.

In June 4, the meeting in Trondheim was concluded with a join seminar organised by H2SCORE and the Norwegian research and innovation centre for hydrogen and ammonia HYDROGENi. The seminar presented and discussed research results and ongoing activities from the two complementary projects on hydrogen technologies, with a focus on safety, system integration, and energy applications. These two intense days have given further support to the launch of some important project activities, from the demo site and the definition of some technical details to the social aspects whose initial results we will see in the coming months.

PRESS RELEASE

Key Energy is the European event leading the energy transition: the exposition gathers in Rimini the international key players on technologies, services and integrated solutions for energy efficiency and renewable energies. In the 2026 edition, our partner Engreen took part to the fair with a company stand, where H2SCORE project was widely promoted.

Engreen is an Italian engineering company working on energy sector with different practical solutions, supporting creation and management of renewable energy community. In H2SCORE, they coordinates the project demonstration site in Quarona (Italy) and work closely with technology partners and local institutions, technicians, residents.

On 11 and 12 December, H2SCORE (Hydrogen Storage and Fuel Cells for Optimised Renewable Energy Communities) started officially its activities with the kick off meeting held at Environment Park in Turin.

The project aims to demonstrate how hydrogen can be integrated into Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) to improve their flexibility, autonomy and ability to fully exploit local renewable resources. Hydrogen represents both a long-term energy storage solution, capable of compensating for the seasonal variability of renewable energy sources, and a means to provide – together with other short-term storage technologies – flexibility and balancing services to the electricity grid.

At the core of the project, an integrated system for hydrogen production, storage and use will be installed, based on two complementary technologies. On the one hand, a low-temperature system including a PEM electrolyser, metal hydride storage and PEM fuel cells; on the other hand, a high-temperature system based on an rSOC module, capable of operating both in fuel cell and electrolysis modes and also fuelled by syngas produced by a local biomass gasifier. Integration with the district heating network of Quarona will also allow the valorisation of the heat produced by the high-temperature system. One of the project’s innovations is hydrogen storage in metal hydrides, a compact and safe solution operating at low pressure, which simplifies regulatory aspects and improves acceptability in urban environments. The use of local biomass – already part of the district heating supply chain – makes the project deeply rooted in the territory and its circular economy. In addition to the fixed infrastructure, H2SCORE will also include a portable hydrogen generator to be used during events or temporary situations, as an alternative to conventional diesel generators.

The consortium is led by Politecnico di Torino, under the scientific leadership of Marta Gandiglio of the STEPS research team, and includes among the local partners Environment Park – responsible for the portable unit, regulatory support to RECs and communication activities – and ENGREEN, which will manage the design and installation of the demonstration site and support replicability analyses in Italy. The Municipality of Quarona, in the Valsesia area, is a direct partner of the project and will host the demonstration infrastructure. These are complemented by the project’s key technology providers: BluEnergy Revolution from Genoa for PEM electrolysers and metal hydride storage, PowerCell Sweden and Zeppelin Power Systems for PEM fuel cells, H2B2 for the rSOC system, and BIO2CHP for the biomass gasifier. The consortium also includes European academic and industrial partners dedicated to environmental assessment (VTT), safety (NTNU), replicability, and energy system modelling (Politecnico di Torino).

The project foresees a one-year demonstration campaign in the Valsesia Renewable Energy Community, during which energy performance, environmental and social benefits will be monitored, and potential pollutant emissions and hydrogen leakages will also be measured. In parallel, four replicability studies in other areas in Italy (ENGREEN), Spain (University of Burgos), Switzerland (Azienda Elettrica Massagno) and Canada (Yukon University) will assess how the model can be adapted to different geographical and regulatory contexts and help identify the role and optimal conditions that make these hydrogen technologies effective.

H2SCORE represents a unique platform for researchers to test and analyse innovative technologies and, at the same time, an opportunity to introduce citizens to high-efficiency, zero-emission solutions that can make a concrete contribution to the energy transition.