Belfast, January 13-14, 2025 – The DelHyVEHR project has successfully concluded its General Assembly hosted by Ulster University in Belfast. This event marks a significant milestone, celebrating one year since the project’s kick-off, and advancing its mission to make liquid hydrogen a viable and accessible clean energy carrier across multiple industries.
The two-day meeting provided an opportunity for participants to review the project’s progress, share valuable insights, and plan the next steps towards a sustainable energy future.
Among the programme highlights were technical workshops hosted by Ulster University, where participants explored potential incident scenarios and key challenges associated with the use of liquid hydrogen technologies from a safety point of view.
In addition, the latest advancements across the DelHyVEHR work packages were reviewed, highlighting significant progress in key areas.
Notably, a key component of the project—the design of the demonstration site at Ariane Group’s location in Vernon, France—is progressing, with the first tests expected to begin soon!
Furthermore, it was reported that the theoretical performance of the high flowrate transfer cryogenic pump, designed for liquid hydrogen refuelling stations, has exceeded expectations. In addition, the conceptual mechanical design aligns with the required pump speed, with no issues related to rotor dynamics. The final three-stage prototype has also been fully designed and is ready for the next steps.
Another notable advancement from a different work package was testing of various designs for flexible hose and coupling systems, which has provided fundamental insights for further design improvements. These technologies are essential for ensuring the insulation and safety required for liquid hydrogen transfer. To meet the demands of heavy-duty, dynamic applications, the project envisions their continued adaptation and redesign to guarantee robustness and longevity.
Moreover, new options for sanitising the coupling interface used in liquid hydrogen transfer have been identified. While helium is currently the preferred gas for this process, its high cost and limited availability make it unsuitable for the global adaptation of liquid hydrogen systems. Recent tests conducted within the project indicate that nitrogen, a more affordable and abundant alternative, could be a feasible replacement.
Looking ahead, the project is now entering a pivotal phase: “We are at a critical stage. While we have made strong progress, it is essential to build on these achievements and secure further key results by the end of the year,” said Hamza Filali, coordinator of the DelHyVEHR project from the ENGIE group. With the mid-term project meeting approaching and tests of the demonstration site on the horizon, this year is set to be a decisive turning point for DelHyVEHR.
