EIFER

Hydrogen mobility is one of the most promising solutions for a sustainable energy transition in large-scale transport modes, including trucks, busses, trains and professional vehicle fleets. For these applications, a dedicated hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is necessary, including hydrogen compressors able to meet challenging constraints in terms of flow rate and availability. The COSMHYC XL project aims at developing an innovative compression solution for extra large hydrogen refuelling stations, based on the combination of a metal hydride compressor and a diaphragm compressor. The solution will be scalable and modular and will therefore be adapted to the diversity of large-scale mobility applications. The combination of both technologies will provide a cost efficient solution, by reducing both the investment and the maintenance costs. Thanks to significant research and innovation activities, from core materials and components to system integration, the new compression solution will contain no critical raw materials. The hydrogen flow rates will be drastically increased, as well as the overall compression ratio. In addition, the reliability and availability of hydrogen refuelling stations will be significantly improved. An innovative system integration concept will enable to optimise the thermal synergies between both compressors and lead to an improved electrical efficiency by more than 30%, thereby contributing to reduce the production costs of hydrogen and making it a competitive fuel for large-scale mobility. COSMHYC XL will include the development of a 1/10 scale prototype, and a long-term test phase of 6 months under real conditions. Techno-economic analysis will be performed and an advisory committee will support the partners to better understand the needs of the market. Extensive communication, dissemination and exploitation activities will take place and maximise the economic, environmental and societal impacts of the project.

Hydrogen mobility is gaining unprecedented momentum through the deployment of passenger & heavy-duty FCEVs. Although the number of Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS) is increasing, the development of a refuelling infrastructure remains a major issue. Today, the compressor is the most challenging component in an HRS in terms of costs and reliability. The COSMHYC consortium developed an innovative compression solution (which combines metal hydride and diaphragm compressors), specifically addressing the needs of H2 mobility. In previous research projects, comprehensive tests enabled this technology to reach TRL5. The solution is now ready for real-life validation within the COSMHYC DEMO project. The aim is to demonstrate that it is well adapted to commercial use for a wide range of H2 applications. The project includes design, construction and integration of the demonstrator in a new dual-pressure HRS supplied with green hydrogen from solar-powered water electrolysis. This HRS is a central part of HYSOPARC, a project implemented by CCTVI (a grouping of municipalities) near Tours, France, for driving regional development based on H2 technologies. The HRS will supply a fleet of 700 bar passenger vehicles, 350 bar utility vehicles and a 700 bar garbage truck. This project presents a great opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness and versatility of the innovative compression solution. The consortium will achieve further innovations on the compression solution followed by a 15 month demonstration phase within the HRS. The compression solution will be CE-certified & will meet latest refuelling standards, incl. for hydrogen purity. An advisory committee will support the partners to validate the solution against the needs of end-users. Market entry will be prepared through a techno-economic analysis and extensive communication, dissemination and exploitation activities, maximising the economic, environmental and societal impacts of the project.

The COSMHYC project aims at answering the needs identified by the MAWP of the FCH2 JU of increasing energy efficiency of hydrogen production while reducing operating and capital costs, in order to make hydrogen a competitive fuel for transport applications. COSMHYC will develop and test an innovative compression solution from 1 to 1000 based on a hybrid concept, combining a conventional compressor with an innovative compression technology. The aim is to reduce the overall compression costs, by reducing investments costs down to less than 2000 €/(kg*day), reducing energy consumption by optimizing the interactions between both compression technologies. Maintenance will be reduced to <50% compared to mechanical compressors and life time will be improved, by decreasing the degradation down to 1% per year, thanks to mechanical adjustments and the implementation of appropriate remote control devices and corrective algorithms. In addition, the system will be significantly less noisy than a mechanical compressor (less than 60 dB at 5 meters). LBST will perform an analysis of the market requirements and define the main critical parameters, which will be used as an input for the research and development activities. MAHYTEC, NEL and EIFER will develop and test both compressors, with a focus on thermal integration. The partners will jointly install, connect and test both components of the new compressor solution in two sites. At each stage of the developments and tests, the results will be used to perform a technical economic assessment of the solution compared to competitors with LBST. In parallel, Steinbeis 2i will accompany the partners in organizing and managing the communication around the project, disseminating the results and preparing their exploitation.