Pilots and Partners
NASCHA pilots solutions for H2 value chain, advancing bankability and investor readiness through 3 Smart Communities of Practice, 2 cross-cutting pilots on hydrogen storage and retail distribution and 1 feasibility study.
Map of the pilot locations.
Partners
Pilots
Ajdovščina Smart Community of Practice (Hydrogen for Irrigation in Vipava Valley)
State-of-the-art: Agricultural irrigation relies on diesel-powered systems, which are expensive, environmentally harmful, and inefficient in addressing energy and water resource challenges.
Innovations: Development of a hybrid energy storage unit powered by solar energy and hydrogen-ready systems. The pilot introduces precision irrigation technology, optimising water and energy use, and incorporates hydrogen refuelling for agricultural machinery.
Ambition: Transform irrigation practices in agriculture, reducing CO₂ emissions and providing a replicable model not only for sustainable farming but also for diversified industrial sectors. We expect a 100% substitution rate from diesel generators to hydrogen and 1 running solution ready for market uptake by 3 years from the end of the project.
Celje Smart Community of Practice (Energy Storage in Celje)
State-of-the-art: Current systems in urban mobility rely heavily on fossil fuels, with limited integration of hydrogen technologies in historically protected urban centres. Existing energy storage solutions (e.g., batteries) face issues of capacity, lifespan, and degradation. Industry can valorise all their photovoltaic (PV) energy production due to instability in the electric grid.
Innovations: Introduction of a Water-Based Liquid Energy Storage (WaBaLES) system, enabling safe, cost-effective energy storage. The system integrates electrolysis, hydrogen storage, and advanced mobility solutions tailored for historic environments.
Ambition: Establish a scalable model for integrating hydrogen into urban systems while addressing architectural constraints and valorise PV energy production (of prosumers as industries) by producing H₂ in the moment when the grid can receive additional PV energy.
Cres Smart Community of Practice
State-of-the-art: Islands face challenges in achieving energy independence, relying on imported fossil fuels with limited renewable energy storage solutions.
Innovations: Implementation of a containerised hydrogen storage system that integrates solar energy, hydrogen production, and fuel cells. The system is designed to provide a stable, year-round energy supply and serve as an energy hub for local transportation and emergency needs.
Ambition: Position Cres as a role model for energy-resilient islands, with a system that is fully replicable across other EU islands. The aim is to reduce transport emissions around sensitive island ecosystems by at least 250 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year by 3 years from the project end. The baseline will be set at the beginning of the project.
CTS H2 HydroHub
State-of-the-art: Hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS) for mobility in the EU are predominantly fixed installations reliant on carbon-intensive steam reforming. Current systems lack modularity, offer limited scalability, and are inefficient for diverse vehicle types, particularly for heavy-duty transport. CTS H2 has already 2 patents and will exploit “The first patent is entitled “Particularly compact and efficient assembly with separator and electrodes to be used in the electrolysis of water for the production of hydrogen at high pressure” and was filed by the World Intellectual Property Organization on 11 August 2022 (n. WO 2022/167880 A1), and the second is “Safety coupling device for a high-pressure fuel fluid container and fuel system of a vehicle comprising such a device” and has been released by the Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy on 11 November 2024 (n. B24-329IT)
Innovations: The HydroHub introduces a flexible, modular HRS, adaptable to demand fluctuations and relocatable as needed. H₂ is stored at 550 bar with efficient pressure balancing for faster refuelling, reducing reliance on energy-intensive cooling. It supports local renewable H₂ production through integrated electrolysis or tanker-supplied H₂. It can be applied to heavy-duty vehicles and light mobility options (e.g., cargo bikes, scooters), alongside swappable Type IV H₂ cylinders.
Ambition: The HydroHub project redefines hydrogen mobility by combining flexibility, scalability, and sustainability. It provides a fully green, adaptable refuelling solution that supports decarbonised transportation along key corridors. It has a huge positive environmental impact: it annually reduces 56,600 kg of CO₂ and releases 30,000 Nm³ of O₂, equivalent to a 1.1-hectare forest. 1 solution ready for market uptake by 3 years from the end of the project.
PATRIA COMPOSITE Hydrogen Storage System
State-of-the-art: To develop complete hydrogen vessels from composite materials integrated with optical fibres for real-time health monitoring. To establish a system for early detection and localisation of vessel failures, contributing to a knowledge database for continuous improvement.
Innovations: The innovative production of hydrogen vessels leverages advanced composite materials for lighter, corrosion-resistant designs. Integrated optical fibre sensors enable real-time health monitoring and early fault detection, while data collection on usage and condition drives continuous improvements in vessel design and maintenance.
Ambition: To meet the growing demand for hydrogen pressure vessels critical to carbon-zero goals in industries like vehicle manufacturing, investments are focused on creating a leading hydrogen competence centre in Europe, emphasising the importance of developing innovative, high-performance storage systems to ensure efficiency and reliability. 1 solution ready for market uptake by 3 years from the end of the project.