The European Hydrogen Week 2023: Defining the future of green energy
The second edition of the European Hydrogen Week, co-organized by the European Commission, Hydrogen Europe and the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, took place from the 20th to the 24th of November in Brussels.
For its second edition, the program focused attention on the need for both urgency and pragmatism in creating the regulatory framework, as well as the unique challenges different sectors face to de-carbonize and how hydrogen can help in this process. During five days, visitors attended several high-level policy conferences and B2B forum talks and explored the exhibition space, where stands from multinational energy and transport companies to innovative start-ups showcased their products and demos and organized networking sessions.
The LESGO project, coordinated by ICFO, had a highlighted stand in one of this year’s novelties, a dedicated space for European-funded actions. The European Project Pavilion hosted ten diverse actions across several European countries, from fully-funded research projects to co-funded actions on technology development and deployment. The stand provided researchers with a platform to engage with a wide spectrum of and to explain LESGO’s goals and advancements. Moreover, their presence allowed for extensive networking, fostering connections with industry leaders, policymakers, fellow researchers, and potential collaborators.
Beyond Hydrogen
The European Commission is also currently investing in solutions for other energy and climate challenges of global interest. As an example, last year’s Horizon Europe EIC Call for the Pathfinder Challenges centred on carbon dioxide and nitrogen management and valorisation and funded eight research projects aimed at improving the CO2 and N cycles.
One of these projects is the recently launched ICONIC, led by ICFO Prof. Pelayo García de Arquer, which focuses on CO2 mitigation and nitrogen management. Set to finish in 2026, the project seeks to transform seawater nitrates and carbonates, which are damaging species responsible for eutrophication and ocean acidification, into useful chemicals such as urea.
Another example is the SOREC2 project, led by UPC Prof. at ICFO Jordi Martorell, which is developing a novel technology to directly convert CO2 and sunlight into added-value C2 chemicals, including ethanol and ethylene, to facilitate secure and efficient energy storage.
The Clean Planet Program
The Clean Planet Program brings together all ICFO activities related to clean energy and environmental research, nurturing a multidisciplinary environment while facilitating an exploitation-focused approach, training young researchers and teaming up with external partners, industries and multiple national and international efforts.
Six ICFO research groups are active participants of the program, developing a diverse catalogue of technologies that range from transparent photovoltaics, thermophotovoltaics or artificial photosynthesis to energy storage, green ammonia and fertilizers, solar fuels and chemicals, Pb-free nanocrystal solar cells or sensing.
The Clean Planet Program also includes other projects, such as the European MERA-NET HELVA; the ERC FasTrack, Nascent and the doctoral network Photocam; several national-funded projects as well as various industry collaborations.