Pilots

The aim of this demo case is to create a guideline for a prototype automated production line for high-pressure pipes, fittings and composite vessels for the storage and transport of gases, including hydrogen. The result will be a jointly created set of standards, requirements and conditions applicable across European regions.

The virtual prototype automated production line should include:

a. The area of quality verification of components included in the manufactured composite elements, especially thermoplastic liners and metal bosses.
b. Production area of high-pressure pipes, fittings and composite vessels, together with an automated system for integrating measuring sensors:
i. Braiding on thermoplastic liner.
ii. Winding on a thermoplastic liner.
c. Monitoring system for manufactured composite structures. Monitoring thanks to the integration of optical fiber, which are already active during the process of winding / braiding.
d. The area of tests and validation of manufactured composite elements.
e. Structural examination of composite elements made (e.g. computed tomography).
f. Pressure testing of manufactured composite components.
g. Area of packaging and delivery to customers.

The aim of this demo case is to create an online network that builds a direct link between the worlds of research and industry as well as to facilitate the matching between companies that want to invest in the field of hydrogen, and universities, research centres and private laboratories that have the necessary facilities and know-how for the hydrogen technology development. The platform will be a single place to promote our regions’ SMEs and our R&I centres who are developing hydrogen solutions. This demo case can also be the place within the Hydrogen Pilot, where we communicate our regional expertise to each other, and lessons learned. Ultimately, we want this work to help us analyse our regions’ strengths and gaps in the supply chain – what technologies do we need to work on together, to become competitive in the hydrogen economy? 

A demonstration of the phase-out of fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, in synergy with the Just Transition Fund, focused on industrial decarbonisation. A H2GLASS project proposed by Slovenian glass factory Steklarna Hrastnik will enable economically sustainable decarbonisation of their production process. The innovation revolves around replacing natural gas with green hydrogen and applying oxy-fuel combustion technology to avoid NOx. The development of a digital twin of the glass production process will provide information on a dynamic techno-economic assessment and allow accelerated study of material aging. The glass manufacturing process will thus move in the direction of Industry 5.0. Similarly, industries located in the Malopolska that consume a significant amount of energy currently supplied in the form of natural gas and coal are interested in switching to environmentally friendly hydrogen and oxyfuel combustion technology and using it to avoid NOx emissions. Exchange with similar regions will be encouraged, on technical knowledge, experiences with public-private investment structures and joint search for innovation support (R&D linkage).

This demo case aims to address the challenge of using the clean hydrogen for the ecosystems of the internal (inland waters) and external maritime sectors.  

The implementation of the action would involve the following areas of interest: 
i. Retrofitting – upgrade of carbon-based technologies – 
ii. Storage – cryogenic and compressed storage – 
iii. Certification – Green Hydrogen – 

This demo-case will bring the innovative topic of hydrogen in the maritime supply chain (energy supply system, H2 production, certification, storage, transport, distribution / refuelling stations, and end-users) to an international level – this topic would be otherwise mainly discussed at national level, e.g., stable forums and partnerships dealing with standards and regulations and innovative solutions (cf. cPP ZEWT), although international, are held at national level. The FVG Region is interested in developing Hydrogen technologies for Shipping and in the sector of Inland Navigation, considering the storage of compressed and Liquid Hydrogen. 

The Smart Specialisation Strategy (2021-2027) of the FVG Region has identified as one of the five specialisation areas the maritime technologies and Sustainable Waterborne Mobility and its land  connections. Typically, maritime industry when present in a regional territory, represents an area of specialization usually capable of high economic and social impacts. Regions which apply to this demo case gather together the innovation targets of their policy and will be able, on the one hand, to benefit from the Vanguard context to further support local actors and, on the other hand, to complete Vanguard Initiative with a market area traditionally essential for the economic stability of EU and, at the same time, able to bring added value in terms of renewal: new business and new jobs. Research and education, public administration, civil society, and business find a meeting point in this sector. In particular, Big Companies, able to move large investments more than others, will be gradually involved. This demo-case will attract both regions (pilot partners) and therefore enterprises (SMEs) among Europe that have tangible and concrete interests in enhancing their competence in this sector enabling the effective progress towards high TRLs levels of the solutions developed and implemented through the demo case. Finally, FVG fosters the creation of a H2 ecosystem aggregating stakeholders of EU littoral regions, aimed at sharing knowledge between the different partners applying, therefore will promote outreach opportunities and dissemination of research results and activities.