The SWITCH European project, coordinated by Fondazione Bruno Kessler, has won the Hydrogen TCP Award of Excellence 2024, the prestigious prize from the International Energy Agency, the supranational intergovernmental organization leading the global dialogue on energy, for its important contribution toward a clean hydrogen economy and a more sustainable future.

The SWITCH (Smart Ways for In-Situ Totally Integrated and Continuous Multisource Generation of Hydrogen) European project, coordinated by Fondazione Bruno Kessler, has been awarded the Hydrogen TCP Award of Excellence 2024, the prestigious award that recognizes excellence in the collaboration, research, development and application of new technologies for hydrogen production, from the International Energy Agency, the supranational intergovernmental organization leading the global dialogue on energy.

SWITCH is a green, cost-effective technology that can ensure an uninterrupted supply of hydrogen, regardless of the availability of renewable energy sources, designed for fueling stations, for mobility, for industrial stakeholders interested in decarbonizing their processes while ensuring their continuity, and for all sectors that need a sustainable and reliable hydrogen supply.

“SWITCH heralds a potential revolution in the way hydrogen is produced and used: it outperforms, in fact, traditional methods in terms of efficiency, cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness,” said Matteo Testi, project coordinator and head with the HyRES unit at Fondazione Bruno Kessler’s Center for Sustainable Energy.  “It represents an important step toward a clean hydrogen economy, which promises reduced emissions, greater energy reliability and a more sustainable future,” the researcher added.

The SWITCH consortium, funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and supported by the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, is composed of seven highly interdisciplinary European partners: Fondazione Bruno Kessler, project coordinator, DLR – German Aerospace Center, EPFL – Ècole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, European companies HyGear and Solyd Era, consulting firm SWECO, and multinational corporation Shell.

Source: https://magazine.fbk.eu/en/news/switch-the-innovative-project-for-the-production-of-green-hydrogen-receives-award-from-iea/ 

Elena Crespi, a researcher with Fondazione Bruno Kessler‘s  Center for Sustainable Energy (SE), was awarded the 2023 Young Scientist Award by Hydrogen Europe Research, an international organisation that includes 150 universities and research centers from 29 countries.

The award ceremony took place on November 22, in Brussels, during Hydrogen Week, the main European event in the field of hydrogen, which hit its fourth edition this year.

The award was established to give visibility to the work of students, doctoral students, postdocs and young (under 35) researchers working within the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, a European initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

The categories of the award are four, including the one dedicated to research in the field of Hydrogen usages, in which the FBK researcher excelled.

Dr. Crespi has carried out research and contributed to several European projects related to the use and production of hydrogen and is currently following, with the SE group at FBK, activities within the PROMETEO and SWITCH projects (the latter recently awarded the Energy Globe Award).

“I am very happy,” Elena Crespi said, “that my research work has received this recognition from Hydrogen Europe Research. I would like to thank the GECOS group at Politecnico di Milano, and in particular professors Giulio Guandalini and Stefano Campanari, with whom I became passionate about hydrogen research, following interesting European projects. And I thank the FBK SE center, directed by Luigi Crema, where in the last two years I have been able to contribute, within a very united and close-knit team, to important research projects on the use and production of renewable hydrogen.”

“As president of Hydrogen Europe Research,” said Luigi Crema, “I consider this award an important event to enhance our young people and their contributions in research. The evaluation process involves the entire European Association Board and ensures impartiality of decision. As Director of the SE FBK Center, I am very grateful to my collaborators for their commitment, which has received important awards over the years, including those in 2020 with Matteo Testi and 2022 with Michele Bolognese, in addition to this year’s award with Elena Crespi. It is a great satisfaction for the Center and for the entire Foundation”.

The winners of the other categories were:

Hydrogen Production Pillar: Drialys Cardenas Morcoso (Luxemburg Institute of Science and Technology – LIST)

Hydrogen Storage and Distribution Pillar: Tom Depover (Ghent University)

Cross Cutting Pillar: Sergii Kashkarov (Ulster University)

Best Researcher of the Year: Giovanni Di Ilio (University of Naples Parthenope)

Listen to Elena Crespi's interview: https://youtu.be/ZMWvGjXfWtY?feature=shared 

The award was assigned by the Austria Trade Consul, Christoph Plank.

The renowned award for sustainability was bestowed last 2nd November by the Trade Consul of Austria, Christoph Plank, to the director of the FBK Sustainable Energy Center, Luigi Crema and to the project coordinator, Matteo Testi. 

“This award”, highlighted Luigi Crema, “is an acknowledgement to the commitment of our researchers and innovators and adds value to our local collaboration with the company SolydEra. We wish to thank the European program of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership for funding with European funds the SWITCH project”.

Coordinated by the FBK researcher Matteo Testi, SWITCH is a Horizon 2020 European project aiming to develop a prototype of an innovative system for hydrogen production, based on the solid-oxide cell technology.

“The SWITCH system”, explains Matteo Testi, “is going to be a technology for hydrogen production designed for refueling stations but also for any industrial user interested in decarbonizing processes guaranteeing at the same time their continuity. The innovation of the SWITCH concept is the production of hydrogen both through electrolysis by renewable resources and through low-Co2-emission processes, guaranteeing supply, as much renewable as possible, and producing also electricity and heat.”  

Smart Ways for In-Situ Totally Integrated and Continuous Multisource Generation of Hydrogen: the project

The heart of the technology will be a reversible solid oxide cell (SOC) that operates in two ways: electrolysis (SOE) and fuel cell (SOFC). In the SOE mode, the SWITCH system will use electricity generated from renewable sources to produce green hydrogen. Through electrolysis, renewable electricity will be used to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The SOFC mode power supply can be natural gas or biomethane.

By offering a cost-effective and continuous supply of H2 to hydrogen refueling stations, the SWITCH system aims to become a key technology for the transition to a carbon-neutral energy and mobility system in Europe, with crucial consequences for people’s health and improved infrastructure.

The Energy Globe Award

With more than 180 participating countries, the Energy Globe Award is defined as the most prestigious environmental award internationally. It is awarded annually to environmental protection, sustainable projects or sustainability awareness campaigns.

The award at the national level qualifies for participation in the international award to be decided in the coming months.

This project was funded by Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking (now Clean Hydrogen Partnership) with the Subsidy agreement n. 875148. This partnership receives the support of the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program of the European Union, of Hydrogen Europe and of Hydrogen Europe Research.

Read the article in Italian: https://magazine.fbk.eu/it/news/il-progetto-switch-vince-lenergy-globe-award-2023-per-litalia/

The awarded PhD thesis is entitled "Electrical grid balancing with fast-ramping Fuel Cell and electrolysis systems: analysis, modelling and optimization" and was carried out by the researcher Elena Crespi during her PhD at Politecnico di Milano, in the Group of Energy Convesion System (GECOS).

The thesis includes two main objectives. The first one is the evaluation and optimization of the dynamic performance of PEM electrolysis and fuel cell systems through numerical simulations and experimental simulations. The second objective is the assessment of the economic competitiveness of Power-to-Power systems for local energy storage or grid flexibility provision through a techno-economic optimization.

L'Associazione Italiana delle Macchine a fluido e dei sistemi per l'Energia e l'Ambiente - AIMSEA (the Italian Association of fluid machines and systems for energy and environment) is a no-profit association that aims to promote the scientific research related to fluid machines and systems for energy and environment, through the definition of strategies which are harmonised with the development perspectives of the field from a technical, economical and social point of view. 

More information on the AIMSEA website (in Italian), at this link.

Photos of the cerimony can be found on AIMSEA Facebook page.

Third place for Alessandro Sartori (a UNITN PhD Student @ FBK Sustainable Energy Center) at the Tyrol Days of the European Forum Alpbach for his paper "Multi-objective optimization of an energy community: an integrated and dynamic approach for full decarbonisation in the European Alps".

Nowadays, energy communities are at the forefront of the EU Green Deal strategy and are offering new opportunities for citizens of the European Region Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino to get actively involved in energy markets. Energy community refers to collective energy actions that foster citizens’ participation across the energy system. It has received increased attention in recent years, developing a wide range of practices to manage energy community projects. Estimates suggest that, by 2030, energy communities could own 17% of installed wind capacity and 21% of solar energy sources. Moreover, by 2050, almost half of EU households are expected to be producing renewable energy.

Developing energy plans requires a number of steps to be completed: i) a baseline study to understand the current status of the energy system in the different energy sectors (electrical, thermal and transport), ii) predicting the future demands in the different energy sectors, iii) identification of local energy sources and realistic constraints, iv) designing and optimizing energy scenarios that fulfill the demand.

The designing and optimizing step should be able to find solutions that, in a specific context, answer the following question: “How (using what technologies) is it possible to meet decarbonisation targets at the lowest transition cost?”. Such research question is the starting point of the study submitted by Alessandro Sartori. Alessandro is doing his PhD scholarship at FBK, in the Center for Sustainable Energy directed by Luigi Crema, inside the Area “Sustainable Territories” led by Diego Viesi.

For the first time, the focus of this research is the multi-objective optimization of an energy community in the European Alps for the years 2030 and 2050, the latter being considered the full decarbonisation target.

With this research work, Sartori has been selected to participate in the final round of the Euregio Young Researcher Award, which was held on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at the European Forum in Alpbach, Tyrol, with the presentation and discussion of the project before a panel of leading experts from research institutions and universities from all three Euregio territories. The awarding of the winners took place during the plenary event of the Tyrol Days on Sunday, August 20, 2023.

In recent years, the Tyrol Days of the European Forum Alpbach have developed into a meeting place and showcase for the research landscape of the European Region Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino. On this occasion, young researchers from the Euregio Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino have been be invited to present their research papers.
This year, the topic “Energy” has been explored from a wide variety of perspectives.
The young researchers have been asked to establish a connection to the Euregio and place a special focus on sustainable energy security.

Young researchers from all scientific disciplines have been invited to participate. In fact, the variety of topics can range from security of supply, renewable energies to economic and political impacts of energy policy, as well as the field of energy law.

“Getting acknowledged for such a prestigious award means a lot for my PhD journey.” – commented Sartori – “It’s a small proof that I’m really playing my part in making the energy transition happen. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to the next opportunity for measuring the quality of my research.”

Read the press release on FBK Magazine - English: https://magazine.fbk.eu/en/news/fbk-sustainable-energy-among-the-winners-of-the-euregio-young-researcher-award-2023/ 

Read the press release on FBK Magazine - Italian: https://magazine.fbk.eu/it/news/fbk-sustainable-energy-sul-podio-del-premio-euregio-giovani-ricercatori-2023/ 

Listen to Alessandro's presentation, at this link: https://www.europaregion.info/it/euregio/progetti/istruzione-ricerca/premio-giovani-ricercatori-euregio/

The award was conferred by Hydrogen Europe Research, an international organization comprising 121 Universities and Research Centers from 27 countries.

Michele Bolognese, a researcher at Fondazione Bruno Kessler’s Sustainable Energy Center (SE), was awarded the 2022 Young Scientist Award by Hydrogen Europe Research, an international organization that includes 121 universities and research centers in 27 countries.

The award ceremony took place on October 26, in Brussels, during Hydrogen Week, the main European event in the field of hydrogen, which hit its third edition this year.

The award was established to give visibility to the work of students, doctoral students, postdocs and young researchers working within the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, a European initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

There were five award categories, including one dedicated to research in the field of hydrogen production, in which the FBK researcher excelled.

“I am extremely happy and proud,” said Michele Bolognese, “to have won this important award promoted by HER in the field of hydrogen production. This achievement means so much to me and to my research career path. I am very grateful to FBK’s Sustainable Energy center directed by Luigi Crema because over the years it has allowed me to grow professionally by acquiring a myriad of skills, expertise and training programs. My dear thanks go to the entire SE team for their constant support and teamwork. Finally, I would like to thank all my family, my better half Rosaria and dedicate this award to my grandfather Michele Moramarco who left us this year.”

“This award,” said FBK Sustainable Energy Center director Luigi Crema, ” is a cause of great satisfaction for researcher Michele Bolognese and, of course, for the entire FBK Sustainable Energy Center. Especially in a particular conjncture for the energy sector and attempts to accelerate in finding new sustainable solutions for industries and territories. It is a sign of dedication, commitment and capacity that represents in our communities the whole SE Center.”

Michele Bolognese received the Award in the field of Hydrogen production, one of the four pillars of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership.

In the other categories, the following researchers have distinguished themselves:

1. Hydrogen storage and distribution: Lisa Blanchard, Dr (CEA)

2. Hydrogen usages: Merit Bodner (Technische Universität Graz)

3. Cross-Cutting activities: Donatella Cirrone (Ulster University)

4. Best researcher of the year: Erika Michela Dematteis (Università degli Studi di Torino)

To read the article click here
To read the press release, click here. 

The FBK Researcher Matteo Testi has been awarded the “Young Scientist” Prize at the European Hydrogen Week 2020. 

Matteo Testi has been awarded for his research in the field of hydrogen mobility and transport, one of the four pillars of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership.