Today we have presented the European project “HI_MOV. Cross-border Technological Corridor of Mobility with Renewable Hydrogen”, which aims to articulate a cross-border ecosystem that promotes a value chain around hydrogen in the Galicia-Northern Portugal Euroregion, contributing to sustainable mobility based on renewable sources. The project consortium is made up of 10 entities from Galicia and northern Portugal: the Technology Centers (CTAG como líder del proyecto, EnergyLab, PIEP, CEiiA), universities (Universidade do Minho, Universidade do Porto, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, territorial groups (AECT-GNP), companies (Petrotec) and public administrations (INEGA-Xunta de Galicia).
The objectives of the project, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the framework of the Spain-Portugal Interreg Program (POCTEP) 2021-2027, focus on analyzing the potential of renewable hydrogen as a mobility vector in the Galicia-Portugal axis. Northern Portugal, improve the training and technological positioning of Euroregion entities in the emerging industry around hydrogen, jointly develop hydrogen technological solutions and demonstrate the viability of its use in the cross-border space through pilot tests. The project will have 4 main work areas to develop its objectives:
- Technological Observatory to analyze the potential of renewable H2 as a mobility vector and model the H2 network in the Galicia-Northern Portugal axis.
- Strengthening the Ecosystem and Training to create a knowledge network and technological positioning of the entities of the Euroregion.
- Development of technological solutions in the areas of storage, distribution and mobility use.
- Demonstration pilots to demonstrate the viability of last mile supply, distribution and logistics technologies with H2 in the cross-border space.
Hydrogen, renewable energy source
Hydrogen is becoming a very relevant option in the transition towards zero-emission mobility, to meet the decarbonization objectives set by the Paris Agreement, the European Green Deal and contribute to the EU’s goal of climate neutrality in 2050. In In the context of mobility, hydrogen is identified as the best solution for the use case of zero-emission vehicles where the use of batteries is less convenient, offering equivalent autonomy and very fast recharging. However, there remain important challenges to be addressed both in the knowledge and development of production, storage, transportation, dispensing and vehicular use technology, as well as the necessary charging infrastructure, challenges that the HIMOV project faces for its deployment in the Galicia-Northern Portugal Euroregion.
