Duration: 01-2020 until 12-2023, 36 months, closed in December 2023

Project Overview: The “Metrology for Advanced Hydrogen Storage Solutions” (MefHySto) project is a European initiative addressing the need for large-scale energy storage solutions, that is crucial for the successful transition to renewable energy sources. The main objective of this project was to develop and provide metrological standards and validated techniques for the storage and utilization of hydrogen. Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as an important component in the future energy system due to its ability to store and supply energy during peak demand periods when renewable sources, such as solar and wind, are not generating power.

The MefHySto project was structured around several specific objectives to ensure a reliable and safe hydrogen storage infrastructure.

Main objectives

• Metrology for Hydrogen from Power-toHydrogen (Work Package 1): This involved assessing the quality of hydrogen produced through proton-exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis during varying operational conditions, using online gas analysers to measure key impurities.
• Thermophysical Properties of Hydrogen (Work Package 2): Improving reference equations of state (EoS) for hydrogen injection into natural gas grids, providing precise density measurements to accurately determine the calorific values of energy gases. – Metrology for Hydrogen from Back Conversion;
• Hydrogen-to-Power (Work Package 3): Investigating the sustainability and reliability of fuel cells, which converted hydrogen back into electrical power, and how impurities in hydrogen and air affected their performance. – Metrology for Reversible Hydrogen Storage (Work Package 4): Developing validated methods for measuring the heat conductivity of hydrogen absorbed in intermetallic or porous materials, and creating harmonized procedures with minimal uncertainty.
• Metrology for Large-Scale Storage (Work Package 5): Tackling the metrological and thermodynamic challenges associated with largescale hydrogen storage in underground gas storages (UGS), particularly during the transition from natural gas to hydrogen.
• Creating Impact (Work Package 6): Facilitating the adoption of the project’s technologies and measurement infrastructure by relevant stakeholders, including manufacturers, standardization bodies, end users, and the energy research community.

By achieving these objectives, the MefHySto project aimed to support the EU’s ambitious renewable energy targets for 2030, as outlined in the Renewable Energy European Directive 2018/2001. The MefHySto project has received funding and support from the European Union, reflecting the EU’s commitment to advancing hydrogen technologies and achieving its ambitious renewable energy targets. Through this funding, the EU aimed to facilitate the development of advanced hydrogen storage solutions, ensuring that these technologies are reliable, safe, and effective. The financial and institutional backing from the EU underscores the strategic importance of hydrogen in the future European energy landscape and supports the collaborative efforts needed to drive innovation and standardization in this field.