The SUSHy project (SUStainability development & cost-reduction of hybrid renewable energies powered Hydrogen stations by risk-based multidisciplinary approaches) focuses on developing efficient, reliable, and low-cost hydrogen technologies powered by hybrid renewable energy sources (HREP), like wind and solar. The project combines technical and social sciences, drawing expertise from four European partner countries (Norway, Spain, Poland, Turkey) and Japan, to address uncertainties and challenges associated with hydrogen production and storage. These uncertainties affect the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of HREP hydrogen stations, especially in fluctuating and unexpected conditions. SUSHy’s work integrates risk-based performance models, safety protocols, public communication strategies, and operational optimization.
Results and Activities:
- Development of Incident Analysis Protocol (ICFA): A significant contribution from the project is the creation of an Incident Contributing Factors Analysis (ICFA) protocol aimed at systematically analyzing hydrogen refueling station (HRS) incidents. This protocol, described in detail in a study on systematic event analysis?, combines insights from high-reliability industries like nuclear power to understand risks in hydrogen systems. It has been applied to over 200 incidents from global databases to identify risk factors and enhance operational safety, making hydrogen stations safer?.
- Hazard and Risk Assessment in Hydrogen Refueling Stations: In another study, the consequences of uncontrolled hydrogen releases at refueling stations were modeled to determine hazard zones associated with explosions. The analysis considered various release scenarios from trailers and high-pressure tanks, showing how overpressure waves could damage nearby structures and pose serious risks to human health. The results emphasized the importance of stringent safety measures in HRS designs to mitigate explosion risks?.
- Machine Learning for Incident Analysis: The SUSHy project has developed a database, called Hydrogen-related Incident Reports and Analyses (HIRA), which collects structured data on hydrogen-related undesired events. Machine Learning (ML) tools have been applied to this and other relevant databases to predict incident outcomes and identify patterns in operational failures. This approach improves the ability to manage and mitigate risks in the hydrogen value chain.
- Performance and Degradation Models: The project has made advancements in creating risk-based performance models for HREP hydrogen stations. These models account for fluctuations and unexpected events, ensuring that operations remain optimal despite the challenges posed by renewable energy variability. One study focused on a wind-solar hybrid hydrogen refueling station, identifying key risk contributors like compressor failures. These insights are helping to improve station designs and operational protocols.
- Public Perception Studies: SUSHy’s work on public perception showed that while hydrogen is generally viewed positively as a clean energy solution, there are lingering concerns about safety and reliability. This highlights the need for clear communication strategies that explain the risks and benefits of hydrogen systems to the public. Understanding these perceptions is essential for building societal acceptance and trust.
- International Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: By fostering collaboration between Europe and Japan, SUSHy is creating a comprehensive research network focused on hydrogen safety and sustainability. This collaboration involves jointly organized seminars, workshops, and researcher exchanges, ensuring that knowledge is shared across borders to develop best practices for hydrogen station safety and performance. The project has also contributed to several international conferences and journals, such as ESREL 2023 and 2024 (European Safety and Reliability Conference), E2DT 2023 (INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & DIGITAL TRANSITION), Computers and Chemical Engineering journal, the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, the Applied Energy journal, the Sustainable Cities and Society journal and the Chemical Engineering Transactions? journal.
The SUSHy project is making significant strides in the development of sustainable and safe hydrogen stations powered by renewable energy sources. Its multidisciplinary approach, combining risk analysis, public perception research, and international collaboration, ensures that the hydrogen technologies developed are not only efficient and cost-effective but also safe and accepted by the public. As hydrogen becomes a key element in the global energy transition, the findings from SUSHy will provide valuable insights for policymakers, industry, and researchers.
The project will be aligned with the call by enhancing the collaborations between Europe and
Japan in the development of sustainable hydrogen technology, with the purpose to develop
more efficient, more reliable, and lower-cost hydrogen-based technologies with a
multidisciplinary approach.
The project aims to address system modelling and analysis issues in clean hydrogen
production and storage, more specifically in the analysis of uncertainties that can impact social,
economic, and environmental sustainability of hybrid renewable energies powered (HREP)
hydrogen production and fuelling facilities Attentions are paid to newly risk-based
performance and degradation models for dealing with fluctuations, unexpecting events, and
other complexities brought by HREP, to prevent and mitigate accidents, build organizational
safety culture and procedures, better communicate with the public, and identify optimal
operational modes for increasing the feasibility of HREP hydrogen stations.
This cross-sectoral project includes multilateral participations of technical and social
sciences from 4 European partner countries (Norway, Spain, Poland, and Turkey) and Japan.
By establishing a research network including jointly online- and onsite seminars and mobility,
a common risk-based framework will be explored for covering technical, organisational, social,
and economic topics to build a better society involving with hydrogen.