The HYGHER Consortium leverages the cutting-edge and complementary expertise of three industrial leaders, three research organisations, and one business-support organisation. These partners hail from four countries: France, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia.
Click on the logos to learn more about each partner.
EIFER
European Institute For Energy Research (EIFER)
Germany
EIFER was created in September 2001 as a European Economic Interest Grouping between EDF (Electricité de France, French utility) and KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) and is located in Karlsruhe, Germany. EIFER is active in several areas of energy transition, from strategic planning for sustainable cities to energy systems. One important research topic in EIFER is hydrogen. The institute develops and tests innovative hydrogen technologies from production through electrolysis to applications. EIFER, as one of the major hydrogen research centres in Europe, aims at accelerating the development of hydrogen mobility from carbon free electricity.
Involvement in the HYGHER Project
EIFER is the coordinator of the project. In addition, EIFER is involved in all technical aspects of the project, and leads the tasks concerning the filling center strategies.
EIFHYTEC
France
EIFHYTEC is a French manufacturer of innovative hydrogen compressors. It was founded in 2019 with the aim to drastically increase the efficiency of hydrogen compression. The company offers tailored solutions for different applications needing compressed hydrogen. As its compressors are using thermal rather than mechanical effects, EIFHYTEC’s solution offers – among others – the benefits that it requires less maintenance, it leads to less wear and tear, it doesn’t cause any noise pollution. EIFHYTEC’s technology is based on more than 15 years of public and private research.
Involvement in the HYGHER Project
Develops, manufactures, and tests the optimized metal hydride compressor. To this end, EIFHYTEC closely collaborates with project partners EIFER and Hype.
RECOMA
Italy
Founded in 1992, RECOMA operates in the sector of compressed gases providing activities of periodic inspections (more than 200.000 cylinders/year), manufacturing and maintenance of bundles (more than 5.000 bundles/year), manufacturing and maintenance of tube trailers and MEGCS.
Involvement in the HYGHER Project
In the HYGHER-project RECOMA will manufacture 2 new high-pressure trailers at 500 bar, that will be demonstrating the transportation of hydrogen from Filling Center to HRS.
Hype
France and EU
Launched in Paris in 2015 at COP 21 in response to the public health emergency of air and noise pollution in urban areas, Hype offers the only 100% zero-emission taxi booking application for the full range of services (Standard, PRM, Premium) and all 100% electric technologies (hydrogen and battery), at no extra cost compared with polluting taxis. Hype, which is developing the first zero-emission mobility platform integrating the production and distribution of green hydrogen, has been directly operating the world’s largest fleet of hydrogen-powered taxis for 8 years and enables the rapid and irreversible switch of taxis and other professional mobility users to zero emission.
By capitalising on its experience and integrated model, which make it easier for as many drivers and customers as possible to use zero-emission mobility solutions in the short term, Hype, which is already present in Paris, Brussels and Le Mans, will roll out its platform in 13 other cities/regions in France and around the world by the end of 2026.
Involvement in the HYGHER Project
Hype will contribute to the development of the HYGHER high-pressure value chain based on its unique techno-economic expertise along the hydrogen mobility value chain.
Hype will operate the new equipment for green hydrogen production, distribution, and use in its hydrogen taxi fleet, the largest in the world.
Fraunhofer ICT
Germany
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, based in Germany, is one of the world’s leading applied research organizations. It plays a crucial role in the innovation process by prioritizing research in key future technologies and transferring its research findings to industry in order to strengthen Germany as a hub of industrial activity as well as for the benefit of society.
Founded in 1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft currently operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany. Its nearly 32,000 employees, predominantly scientists and engineers, work with an annual business volume of 3.4 billion euros; Fraunhofer generates of this revenue out of industry collaborations, which is Fraunhofer’s unique selling point in the German research landscape.
Fraunhofer and its Institute for Chemical Technology, is a leading Research Organisation for fuel cells and H2 technologies with high specific expertise on H2 safety. Fraunhofer ICT has been working in the field of hydrogen safety for many years. During the early 1980’s and 90’s, ICT conducted significant fundamental research on the safety of hydrogen in large-scale applications. The focus was on the explosion, deflagration, and detonation behaviour of large H2-air mixtures. In recent years, various industrial and research projects in the field of hydrogen safety have been carried out. In addition, ICT is founding and permanent member of the international association HySafe (https://hysafe.info) and is thus globally networked in the field of H2 safety (USA/Canada/Far East/Australia).
Involvement in the HYGHER Project
Fraunhofer ICT oversees developing the overall safety concept for the high-pressure value chain, based on detailed analysis of Regulation, Codes and Standards. Recommendations will be formulated for progressing toward a safe, efficient and enabling regulatory context. Fraunhofer ICT will support industrial partners by ensuring compliance with latest regulation and by developing a dedicated safety framework at value chain level.
University of Ljubljana
Slovenia
The university of Ljubljana, abbreviated UL, is the oldest and largest higher education and scientific research institution in Slovenia, founded in 1919. Today, it offers a broad spectrum of programs at its 23 faculties and three art academies to around 40,000 students and employs more than 6,000 teachers, researchers, assistants, and professional and administrative staff. As the Slovenian leader in research and innovation it tackles real-world challenges in science, technology, social sciences, and other fields, also with numerous EU-funded projects.
Involvement in the HYGHER Project
The UL will assess the techno-economic performances as well as environmental impacts of the demonstrated technologies and new value chain, based on its high-level research in environmental and economic decision-making. The UL has extensive knowledge in this field due to their participation in over 6 EU projects related to life cycle assessment, recycling, end of life, and eco-design for hydrogen technologies.
Steinbeis Europa Zentrum
Germany
Steinbeis Europa Zentrum/ Steinbeis Innovation GGmbH stands for over 30 years of experience in innovation consulting and research funding throughout Europe and beyond. SIG, is involved in initiatives related to gender in tech & innovation (e.g. Women4Energy), to promote equality & implement a gender sensitive approach in R&D and innovation
SIG has over 20 years’ experience in supporting SME’s to innovate and in managing EU projects (organisation, administration & finance, data management and gender aspects).
SIG is also in charge of communication, dissemination and exploitation in more than 10 EU projects on H2 and developed specific know-how in outreach activities, IP management and business development in this field.
SIG is also expert in innovation financing, supporting start-ups and SMEs to scale-up.
Involvement in the HYGHER Project
In HYGHER the SEZ is in charge of Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation activities. SEZ is also supporting the partners for administration, finance, and IP management, and will guide the project for implementing a gender balanced approach in its innovation processes.
