Explore – Center of Excellence Hydrogen

Areas of Work

CoE-H aims to facilitate R&D efforts on the generation of clean hydrogen from different feedstocks through a variety of processes. Creation of hydrogen through electrolysis to capture renewable electricity from wind or solar energy sources will provide dispatchable lower-carbon energy to consumers that could be used for remote and back-up power generation. Advancement in this field requires testing, evaluation, and optimisation of performance for hydrogen production and electricity/ hydrogen cogeneration.

CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS) aims to minimise CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industry processes. CoE-H will conduct research on the entire value chain for CO2 capture, transport and storage. Through cost-effective carbon capture and/ or carbon sequestration, clean hydrogen can be generated from hydrocarbons for both large and small scale distributed production. Further improvement and advancement in technologies will make on-site hydrogen production from renewable feedstocks, digester plants or landfills possible, while simultaneously minimising costs of hydrogen transportation.

Hydrogen is an emerging alternative for energy storage, and CoE-H aims to facilitate further exploration and research to determine appropriate hydrogen blends, develop and test material types and pipeline components, optimise operating conditions, and assess end-use equipment compatibility for large-scale infrastructure deployment. Further research will also be conducted into the standardisation of building codes for hydrogen facilities and underground storage requirements.

CoE-H aims to facilitate the development of comprehensive safety guidelines, codes, and standards for hydrogen production, storage, and distribution. CoE-H intends to create projects with a renewed focus on ensuring safe operation, handling and use of hydrogen and hydrogen systems through safety sensors, codes, and standards.

Policy development is a defining factor for creating and establishing a comprehensive framework with a focus on the Hydrogen Ecosystem. In addition to providing a platform for collaboration between various stakeholders, CoE-H aims to conduct extensive policy research to facilitate large-scale adoption of green hydrogen practices.

Almost every nation in the world has acknowledged that the challenges and concerns raised by the production of CO2 and GHG will have lasting negative impacts within our lifetime. While efforts to mitigate climate change continue across the globe, incorporation and utilisation of the vast potential of green hydrogen will prove to be a cornerstone in their success. Therefore, CoE-H aims to enhance global cooperation between stakeholders through a comprehensive set of international standards and benchmarks.

Climate change affects every inhabitant of our planet. As Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, once proclaimed:

"Everything is connected to everything."

A river of hope and an ocean full of possibilities.

Outcomes

CoE-H aims to conduct advanced research into new and improved technologies in order to:

Increase efficiency
Reduce material and energy consumption during manufacturing
Improve reliability, quality, and life expectancy of the balance of system components
Develop competence in storage and delivery technology development, designing, and testing
Facilitate development of materials and devices, including storage materials and methods
Identify key research goals and support research across the entire hydrogen value chain
Involve industry leaders in research and technology validation projects
Perform simulation and modelling for the development of optimum hydrogen technologies

CoE-H intends to undertake research projects for various departments of state, central government and international partners in the Norwegian Hydrogen Cluster in key research areas. By undertaking such projects, the Center aims to provide meaningful and comprehensive inputs for policy evaluation, policy monitoring, and policy formulation.

CoE-H aims to bring together key national and international stakeholders annually and provide them with a platform to deliberate, discuss, and decide on the way forward for the Global Roadmap for Hydrogen. This cooperation would ensure that targets are at achievable levels and that future trajectories are clearly and comprehensively charted out. Parallely, the COE-H will continue to showcase its outcomes on other national and international platforms to gather inputs on the work undertaken by the Center.

CoE-H will assist in developing human resources within the government to understand and apply the best practices and policies in the industry. Training programs and workshops in all areas of the hydrogen value chain will pave the way for an increased general knowledge about all aspects of the hydrogen ecosystem.

CoE-H will strive to provide crucial inputs to concerned government authorities, both during the formulation of new climate change policies and the assessment of established climate policies.