Joint Research Unit for Hydrogen Technologies

Research Groups at University of Burgos (UBU):

• Grupo de Integridad Estructural
• Grupo de Polímeros
• Grupo Amido-Ruca

Research Team (external, both national and international): 

1. Simulación Numérica, Modelización, Caracterización Mecánica y Optimización Microestructural de Componentes Industriales (Universidad de Oviedo)
2. Mechanics of Materials Lab (University of Oxford)
3. Nanomechanical Lab (Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU, Trondheim)
4. Materials and Manufacturing Processes (INEGI, University of Porto)
5. Laboratorio de Ciencias de Tecnologías del Hidrógeno (H2Lab)

Coordination: 

• Name and surnames of the Coordinator: Andrés Díaz Portugal
• Research Group: Grupo de Integridad Estructural
• Departament: Ingeniería Civil

Motivation and context:

The success of hydrogen as an energy vector alternative to fossil fuels requires support to research into related technologies (production, storage, transport and use). Hydrogen plays a pivotal role for energy decarbonisation within the recovery plans of the European Union (NextGen), focused on the new Green Deal. The EU sets a target for 2050 that at least 13-14% of the energy mix should be ​​based on renewable hydrogen. In addition, to materialise these investments from European funds, the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance has been created, being the UBU an active member. 

The Spanish Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (2021-2027), also considers hydrogen energy and fuel cells as strategic topics in the R&D line "Climate change, decarbonisation and sustainable transport" and the application of hydrogen renewable energy is a key point in the "Advanced materials and new production techniques" line. Similarly, hydrogen technologies will be crucial in the decarbonisation and decentralisation of energy in the region, objectives that belong to the section of the RIS3 2021-2027, "Castilla y León, carbon neutral and fully circular". 

Within this context, the Structural Integrity Group in the University of Burgos has a recognised experience in research on the behaviour of materials and the structural integrity of components in contact with hydrogen, carrying out different national and international collaborations with prestigious groups. Therefore, it is considered now, more than ever, necessary to promote this research, with special emphasis on the dissemination to the general audience and the industrial sector of all activities around hydrogen technologies (publications, conferences, seminars, capabilities, services to companies, patents, etcetera). The creation of this Joint Research Unit will enhance the collaboration between the groups involved, give visibility to the transfer of research and improve the international position of the UBU as a promoter of hydrogen technologies.

Scope:

The Joint Research Unit for Hydrogen Technologies (JRUH2T) gathers different groups from the University of Burgos with national and international collaborators from different sectors. All groups are actively involved in research lines that concern the hydrogen value chain, including production, transport, storage and use.  

Some members of the JRUH2T are oriented to the design and analysis of systems handling high-pressure gaseous hydrogen. Alloys and composites for H2 compressors, pipelines or storage tanks need to be characterised in order to prevent or predict hydrogen-induced degradation. These involved groups have a recognised expertise in structural integrity, hydrogen embrittlement, material science, metallurgy, chemo-mechanical characterisation, high-performance polymers, etcetera, although some groups focus on a more experimental approach and others are centred in the numerical simulation of hydrogen-related phenomena. Through these collaborations, the scientific challenge around hydrogen embrittlement in real H2 systems can be tackled while their design, material selection and cost are optimised. Therefore, a two-fold approach is considered in the JRUH2T: a breakthrough in the understanding of hydrogen-material interaction is searched, and the practical application of this knowledge is applied to H2 compression, transport and storage systems. On the other hand, the JRUH2T also gathers research groups focused on other hydrogen topics including electrolysis, decision support tools for hydrogen networks or catalysis for the production of green ammonia or in fuel cells.