2024 Clean Hydrogen Partnership Awards: Stars are Made of Hydrogen
The 7th edition of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership Awards, presented in Brussels on 20 November 2024, celebrated the latest advances in European clean hydrogen technologies and, for the first time, the leading role of women in the sector.
The awards were held during the annual European Hydrogen Week and recognized achievements in five categories: Best Success Story, Best Innovation, Best Outreach and European Hydrogen Valleys. The Women in Hydrogen Innovation Award was introduced this year, to encourage the participation of more women engineers and scientists in the development of clean hydrogen technologies.
Best Success Story: Portable Power
The winner, EVERYWH2ERE, was selected by public vote, out of six nominees. The project designed and built an easy-to-install, transportable generator that can supply temporary power in places such as construction sites, cultural events, and ports. Combining fuel cell stacks with hydrogen technology eliminates the need for noisy and polluting diesel generators.
Danica Maljković, Chair of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership governing board, presenting the award, said :
This recognition highlights the potential of portable hydrogen-powered generators to transform sustainable energy solutions across diverse industries,
‘We are grateful for the public’s support and proud to have contributed to advancements in clean, portable power that can make a real impact in reducing emissions and promoting green energy. This award motivates us to keep pushing the boundaries of what hydrogen technology can achieve’ said Andrea Bombardi, Global Market Development Executive Vice President at RINA, the company coordinating the project.
Best Innovation Award: on track for success
This year’s winner, FCH2RAIL, contributed to the ongoing development of clean rail transport. To ensure that diesel trains can be retrofitted to run on hydrogen, the project built a testing system that does not require the use of a real train. The tests can determine the performance and operation of the individual parts of a fuel cell hybrid power pack or of the complete system.
The project developed a fuel cell hybrid power system for different rail applications and that can be retrofitted in existing electric and diesel trains.
Holger Dittus, coordinator of the project from the company DLR, said :
The fast and professional realisation of the test bench for the Fuel Cell Hybrid Powerpack and the tests made it possible validate and optimize the FCHPP systems early before they have been used in the demonstrator train.
“This paid off during the demonstration of the H2 train, which delivered the expected functionality and performance from day one,”
Six projects had been nominated for the award. The award was presented by Joanna Drake, Deputy Head of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, who commended the awards and the role of the partnership:
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership is worldwide regarded as one of the main drivers of the hydrogen revolution. Today we are proudly rewarding the top projects and beneficiaries of funding for their excellent achievements in 2024.
Best Outreach: setting sail for clean waterborne transport
The Best Outreach award provides a strong message that effective outreach and communication are vital to accelerating the adoption of hydrogen technologies. By sharing knowledge and showcasing tangible successes, we are building confidence in hydrogen as a cornerstone of the clean energy transition.
The winner, FLAGSHIPS, retrofitted the diesel-powered H2 Barge 2 with hydrogen fuel cells. Launched on 8 February 2024, the vessel is used on the Rhine to transport containers between Rotterdam and Duisburg. The project will also start to demonstrate the Zulu 6, a newly built cargo barge, on the Seine in Paris, making it the first hydrogen-powered barge to sail on a French waterway. Both vessels will be kept in normal commercial operation after the project’s 18-month demonstration period.
Jyrki Mikkola, project coordinator and senior scientist at Finland’s VTT research centre, said :
We are truly honoured to be recognised by the EU for our work,
“Our project has illustrated hydrogen’s critical role in achieving zero-emission maritime transport. Knowledge-sharing about our innovations is essential as market enthusiasm grows.”
Mirela Atanasiu, Head of Communications at the Clean Hydrogen Partnership presented the award:
Projects like FLAGSHIPS demonstrate the transformative potential of hydrogen in achieving zero-emission transport, but their impact also comes from inspiring and informing the wider maritime sector and beyond.
“Congratulations to the FLAGSHIPS team for not only advancing innovation but also leading the way in communicating the possibilities of a sustainable future.”
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
2024 Clean Hydrogen Partnership Awards: Stars are Made of Hydrogen, source
