HERCCULES aims at defining a first-of-a-kind, integrated and replicable approach for the implementation of the whole CCUS chain to two strategic sectors of the circular economy - Cement and Energy-from-Waste (EfW) – in an area – Italy and Greece – where the industrial promise of CCUS is largely unexplored. Leveraging on the potential of two clusters of emitters in Northern Italy (cement + EfW) and Greece (cement), HERCCULES will pave the way towards the implementation of the first full-scale CCUS chain in Southern Europe. Technological, infrastructural, safety, societal, regulatory and financial issues will be addressed by a multidisciplinary approach to build an “HERCCULES paradigm” comprising nine basic chapters. 1) TRL7-8 demonstration of 2 flexible and retrofittable CO2 capture technologies, to be tested in 2 large-scale cement plants + 1 EfW plant with residual waste/biomass feed to approach nearly zero or negative emissions (>9000 h of tests). 2) Design of the optimal CO2 transport network for utilization and storage under different infrastructural evolution scenarios. 3) TRL8 Geological storage of captured CO2 in the two most advanced CO2 sites in Southern Europe (Prinos and Ravenna). 4) Demonstration in industrial environment of novel CO2 mineralization solutions and re-use technologies for the production of a breakthrough hydraulic binder enabling the industrial production of a carbon-sink concrete (>1000 h of tests). 5) Experimentally-supported, Techno-Economic Analyses with risk assessment to ensure the safety of the full CCUS chain. 6) Advancement of societal readiness through a participative approach. 7) Identification of business models and financial mechanisms tailored to CCUS. 8) TRL8-9 pre-FEED studies on the most promising HERCCULES implementation options. 9) Ad-hoc case studies to verify the replicability of the HERCCULES paradigm. Know-how, data and models will converge into a dedicated exploitation plan to seed CCUS across Europe.

The HyPowerGT project aims at moving technological frontiers to enable gas turbines to operate on hydrogen without dilution. The core technology is a novel dry-low emission combustion technology (DLE H2) capable of handling mixtures of natural gas and hydrogen with concentrations up to 100% H2. The combustion technology has been successfully validated at TRL5 (early 2021) retrofitted on the combustion system of a 13 MWe industrial gas turbine (NovaLT12). Besides ensuring low emissions and high efficiency, the DLE H2 combustion technology offers fuel flexibility and response capability on a par with modern gas-turbine engines fired with natural gas. The new technology will be fully retrofittable to existing gas turbines, thereby providing opportunities for refurbishing existing assets in industry (CHP) and offering new capacities in the power sector for load levelling the grid system (unregulated power) and for mechanical drives. The DLE H2 technology adheres to the strictest specifications for fuel flexibility, NOx emissions, ramp-up rate, and safety, stated in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda 2021-2027. System prototype. The new DLE H2 combustion technology will be further refined and matured and, towards the end of the project, demonstrated at TRL7 on a 16.9 MWe gas-turbine engine (NovaLT16) fired with fuel blends mixed with hydrogen from 0-100% H2. Within this wide range, emphasis is placed on meeting pre-set targets for (a) fuel flexibility and handling capabilities, (b) concentration of hydrogen fuel during the start-up phase, (c) ability to operate at varying hydrogen contents, (d) minimum ramp speed, and (e) safety aspects pertaining to any level with regard to related systems and applications targeting industrial gas-turbine engines in the 10-20 MWe class. A digital twin will be developed to simulate performance and durability characteristics, emulating cyclic operations of a real cogeneration plant in the Italian paper industry.

CARMA-H2 will enable highly attractive hydrogen production from biogas through demonstration of a protonic membrane reformer (bioPMR) that integrates steam methane reforming and water-gas shift reactions, hydrogen separation, heat management, CO2 capture and hydrogen compression in a single stage. The realization of 6 process steps in a single reactor allows to achieve unprecedented energy efficiency with a project target to demonstrate >85% (HHV) at the bioPMR level. The bioPMR technology enables direct delivery of purified and pressurized H2 (30 bar). BioPMR will be coupled with CO2 liquefaction to enable direct production of food-grade CO2. Coupling the liquefaction unit allows for higher hydrogen recovery and liquid CO2 production as the off-gas from the liquefaction process will be recycled back to the bioPMR unit. CARMA-H2 will demonstrate the bioPMR technology integrated with CO2 liquefaction at the existing Arazuri wastewater treatment plant in the region of Navarra in Spain. The demonstration plant will be operated for at least 4000 h, and produce 500 kg/day of hydrogen and above 4000 kg/day of food-grade CO2. To facilitate the demonstration CARMA-H2 will install 1) a pre-treatment system for biogas compression and removal of sulphur and other impurities, 2) two bioPMR modules which will operate directly on biogas (CO2 > 40 vol.%), and 3) an integrated CO2 liquefaction unit. The demonstration plant will be located in Ebro Valley Hydrogen Corridor, and the project aims to secure off-take of the produced hydrogen and liquid CO2 during operation. The overall system will be controlled and analysed by an advanced control system and an associated digital twin that will be developed in the project. The wastewater plant is currently operating a biogas production plant of >4 MW from which the biogas is utilized for power generation. The achievements in CARMA-H2 will be an important proof of technological feasibility advancing the technology from TRL5 to TRL7.

Currently, NG is normally substituted by hydrogen in upstream processes (both blast furnace and DRI), or limited application in finishing lines. Current downstream processes totally rely on NG burning as thermal source. Therefore, the massive usage of hydrogen in steel industry, as envisioned in the Carbon Direct Avoidance pathway of the ESTEP/EUROFER masterplan, requires a transformation of entire steelmaking process from liquid production process (UPSTREAM) to the rolling and finishing line (DOWNSTREAM). This research project is aimed at adopting hybrid heating technology (based on NG with progressive and increasing H2 utilization) in downstream processes. Thermal treatment and reheating processes, which are common to both BF and EAF route have a significant NG demand (about 50 Nm3/t of produced steel). also utilization for ladle preheating has a relevant NG demand (in the range 5-15 Nm3/t). In order to allow the shift from NG to H2 and consequently to reduce the environmental impact by using innovative combustion technologies (like flameless and oxyfuel combustion), impacts on steel quality, refractory and furnace must be assessed at high TRL (7). The general objective of this project is to exploit the hybrid heating technologies by evaluating the effects of the steel products, on the refractories and also on the combustion systems. Three Demo cases testing innovative multifuel burner and testing the limit of current systems at TRL 7 will facilitate the hydrogen transition of the steel sector. Achieved results will bring to a CO2 saving in the range 7.5-25Mt/year. Regarding the steel quality, the project activities will individuate the optimum processing parameters to ensure that primary scale and associated scale defects do not persist through to the final product.

How maximize hydrogen (H2) blending potential in natural gas (NG) networks, supporting European energy system decarbonisation? The answer lies in the need of a systemic, multi-disciplinary approach to make NG infrastructure resilient to the challenges of tomorrow. Industrial and research players’ competences are required. In this framework, THOTH2 consortium focuses on energy measurement value chain and instruments’ ability to accurately measure physical parameters of H2NG mixtures with increasing H2 percentages, up to 100%. Including gas TSOs, DSOs, metrological and research institutes and academia, THOTH2 consortium has all competences and skills to reach the goals of i) define standards to evaluate the metrological performances of measuring devices at different H2 blending rates (up to 100%), ii) verify safety and durability of the same devices, and iii) suggest future needs to overcome the observed barriers and limitations. SNAM competences in managing NG assets are essential for the coordination and synergic integration of the 14 partners, recognized as experts in NG and H2 industry (GRTGAZ, GAZ-SYSTEM, Enagás, INRETE), metrology (CESAME, INRIM, METAS), H2 blending technologies and measuring devices design, engineering, and R&D activities (UNIBO, INIG, FBK, ENEA, CSIRO). The communication and dissemination strategy by GERG will give visibility to project’s results, including contributions to Mission Innovation 2.0 and EURAMET projects. THOTH2 vision will lead to an acceleration towards H2 economy, contributing to REPowerEU and NextGeneration EU objectives. The project impact potential includes the establishment of a R&D Hub center, including THOTH2 partners and Advisory Board members, to translate into valuable results achieved by the project, aiming to i) the development/update of international standards, ii) foster innovation in the field of H2NG blending measuring devices, and iii) supporting H2 value chain development leveraging on the EU gas infrastructure