H2SCORE

• BLUENERGY REVOLUTION SCRL
• PARCO SCIENTIFICO TECNOLOGICO PER LAMBIENTE ENVIRONMENT PARK TORINO SPA
• ENGREEN SRL
• COMUNE DI QUARONA
• TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
• H2B2 ELECTROLYSIS TECHNOLOGIES SL
• TECHNOLOGIES VIO - ENERGEIAS IDIOTIKI KEFALAIOUCHIKI ETAIREIA
• POWERCELL SWEDEN AB
• ZEPPELIN POWER SYSTEMS GMBH
• FUNDACION CARTIF
• UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS
• YUKON UNIVERSITY
• AZIENDA ELETTRICA DI MASSAGNO (AEM) SA
• NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNU  

Global budget of the project

4.999.895,03 €

Financial contribution of the European Commission

4.999.895,03 €

UBU´s  Budget

101.937,50 €

EC contribution

101.937,50 €

Project duration

48 months (01/12/2025 – 31/11/2029)

Contact

crizquierdo@ubu.es

Web

In development 

Description

H2SCORE aims to demonstrate how integrated Fuel Cell and Hydrogen (FCH) technologies can enable the next generation of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), enhancing their decarbonisation, resilience, and energy autonomy. The project combines low-temperature (PEM electrolyser, metal hydride storage, PEM fuel cell) and high-temperature (reversible Solid Oxide Cell powered by syngas from local biomass) hydrogen systems in a modular, replicable setup.

The concept will be demonstrated in the operational Valsesia REC (Quarona, Italy). The system will be fully integrated with the local electrical grid and District Heating Network, enabling sector coupling, and managed through an advanced Energy Management System aimed at multi-vector (electricity, heat, hydrogen, biomass) optimisation and oriented towards REC-specific objectives. A portable hydrogen-powered fuel cell genset will also be deployed for temporary or mobile use cases.

This first-of-its-kind H2-REC will operate at TRL7 through a 12-month demonstration campaign, also including on-site detection of pollutant emissions and hydrogen leakages. A cloud-based monitoring tool will track REC KPIs in real time, support stakeholder engagement, and promote replicability.

H2SCORE modelling framework integrates techno-economic, environmental, regulatory, safety, and social dimensions to guide both H2-REC impacts assessment and replication strategy. Four replication studies (Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Canada) will test the concept across different geographies, user needs, regulatory environments, and both on- and off-grid settings.

The project builds on previous EU-funded FCH projects and leverages the complementary expertise of 15 partners, fostering synergies with relevant EU and national initiatives to scale up hydrogen-ready RECs across Europe and beyond.