Hydrogen is central to realising the green transition
The EU considers hydrogen essential to reaching its goal of climate neutrality by 2050, as well as the global effort of meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. The EU Hydrogen Strategy gives hydrogen a broad and central role in the planned integrated energy system.
"Hydrogen will be important in sectors where it is difficult to cut emissions through electrification alone, such as shipping, heavy transport and industry. It can also help balance the energy system by storing renewable energy until it is needs," said SINTEF Senior Business Developer Kyrre Sundseth. Kyrre is also one of the coordinators of the research centre FME HYDROGENi, and the technical coordinator of the EU Hydrogen Valley project NORHyWAY.
Research and innovation for technology development and market rollout
If hydrogen is to contribute to emission reductions and increased competitiveness, technology, infrastructure, safety, markets and regulatory frameworks must be developed together. SINTEF's expertise spans materials, electrochemistry, process technology, modelling, safety and material integrity. It also covers energy and cost analyses, life-cycle assessments, and the development of integrated value chains.
SINTEF's Norwegian Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Centre develops and validates materials for low- and high-temperature fuel cells and electrolysers, from the component level to single cells to smart cell stacks. This expertise is combined with research on systems, pilot projects and demonstrations in collaboration with industry.
In this way, SINTEF contributes to more resource-efficient technologies and helps reduce the risks associated with scale-up and market rollout.
International collaboration is essential
Developing and deploying hydrogen solutions at scale requires collaboration across national borders.
"International collaboration gives us access to expertise, research infrastructure and markets that we do not have on our own. By sharing experience, we can develop, adapt and scale hydrogen solutions more quickly. That is why European and international collaboration is an important part of SINTEF's hydrogen research," said Kyrre.
Since 2010, SINTEF has participated in over 50 hydrogen-related EU projects, many of them as coordinator. Today, it is among Europe's leading research institues in hydrogen, with the second-largest R&D activity in the field.
FME HYDROGENi, a Centre for Environment-friendly Energy Research led by SINTEF, brings together a large network of international research and industry partners. Its aim is to contribute to a sustainable hydrogen economy based on zero- and low-emission hydrogen. The research covers four main areas: cost-effective and scalable production; transport and storage; end-use technologies; and safety and material integrity.
SINTEF at European Hydrogen Week 2026
European Hydrogen Week will take place in Brussels, 26-30 October. It brings together stakeholders across the hydrogen value chain, from policy, industry and technology to research and finance. This year's theme is "Scaling hydrogen, strengthening resilience". Once again, SINTEF is attending to present research and solutions from a range of hydrogen projects. Here are some of them:
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- Production and electrolysis: SURFER, REFHYNE II, AEMELIA and UNICORN
- Fuel cells and end use: BeBoP Hydrogen and CLEANER
- Industrial decarbonisation: H2Glass
- Transport and market rollout: NORHyWAY and H2Accelerate TRUCKS
- Storage and hydrogen carriers: HyCavern and COUPLE
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H2Glass
H2Glass aims to reduce emissions from the glass industry by developing and deploying technologies that enable glass production plants to run entirely on hydrogen.
During European Hydrogen Week, you can meet H2Glass at the EU Projects Pavilion in Hall 7. H2Glass is also hosting its own policy forum, "Co-creating industrial hydrogen pathways for energy-intensive industries," on Wednesday 28 October. Participants will discuss barriers, opportunities and solutions for increasing the use of hydrogen in energy-intensive industry. The forum will focus particularly on the glass and aluminium industries.
NORHyWAY
NORHyWAY will develop Norway's first large-scale regional hydrogen ecosystem, connecting production, distribution and end use. Applications include maritime transport, road transport and energy system flexibility.
You can find NORHyWAY in Hall 11, stand A12.
SURFER
SURFER will demonstrate how flexible electrolysers can serve two purposes: producing renewable hydrogen, and acting as dynamic energy buffers that help balance the energy system.
During European Hydrogen Week, you can meet SURFER at the EU Projects Pavilion in Hall 7.
H2Accelerate TRUCKS
H2Accelerate TRUCKS will develop and demonstrate heavy-duty hydrogen trucks. By 2030, the project will deploy 125 fuel cell trucks in at least six European countries.
BeBoP Hydrogen
BeBoP Hydrogen is developing better and more cost-effective components for fuel cell systems. The aim is more efficient and reliable solutions for heavy-duty vehicles and other parts of the transport sector.
HyCavern
HyCavern is developing next-generation technology for safe and scalable underground hydrogen storage in Europe.
REFHYNE II
REFHYNE II will install a PEM electrolyser at Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland in Germany. Powered by renewable electricity, the plant will produce green hydrogen and oxygen. Both will be used in existing refinery processes to reduce emissions.
CLEANER
CLEANER enables the use of affordable, industrial-grade hydrogen in PEM fuel cell systems through improved materials and operating strategies.
AEMELIA
AEMELIA is developing and optimising a catalytic porous transport layer (PTL) for AEM water electrolysis. The layer is design to work without platinum group metals (PGMs) or critical raw materials.
UNICORN
UNICORN aims to make PEM water electrolysers more sustainable by reducing the use of critical raw materials in the catalyst layer and bipolar plates.
COUPLE
COUPLE is developing new technology to convert ammonia into clean hydrogen in an energy- and cost-efficient way.
