The EU’s Clean Hydrogen Partnership has this week announced a call for proposals for €195mn ($211mn) in grants for hydrogen technology R&D.

The grants will be awarded under 26 categories, broadly grouped into 11 innovation actions—five of which will be demarcated as flagship projects due to their strategic importance—13 research innovation actions, and two coordination and support actions. The call for proposals will close in April.

The bloc has also announced funding for two companies via its Innovation Fund and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The EU Innovation Fund has awarded €108mn ($116mn) to German utility RWE for a waste-to-hydrogen project dubbed FUREC.

€108mn – Funding awarded to RWE’s FUREC project

RWE plans to process 700,000t/yr of municipal solid waste into recovered fuel pellets, which will be used as feedstock for the production of 54,000t/yr of hydrogen at the company’s Chemelot industrial park. The utility estimates this hydrogen could displace 280mn m³ of natural gas consumed at the industrial park, although it adds that hydrogen could be transported to industrial companies in Rotterdam and the Ruhr area. FID on FUREC is expected in 2024.

The EIB has meanwhile lent €40mn ($43mn) to propulsion systems engineering firm Punch Group in order to support R&D for hydrogen engines and fuel cells.

“The EIB's support will be a key factor in implementing our vision of sustainable mobility for all. We wish to expand our technological expertise in the field of electric and hydrogen propulsion, and we believe in the huge potential of hydrogen engines, especially for heavier or commercial vehicles, off-road vehicles and the marine sector,” says Guido Dumarey, CEO of the Punch Group.

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Author: Polly Martin