Research project CrossHy
Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Implementation Pathways for Synergetic Solutions in French-German Hydrogen Supply
In a climate-neutral Europe, the electricity supply systems of Germany and France will play different roles, with synergies between nuclear and renewable energies. The use of hydrogen will play a key role in both systems. A cooperative approach to the development of the future hydrogen infrastructure is therefore crucial to recognise and benefit from synergies. With this in mind, the CrossHy research project aims to create a robust and detailed roadmap for the development of the necessary hydrogen infrastructure in France and Germany. The cross-border nature of the project is reflected in the funding provided by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the French Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche.
Research project CrossHy | |
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Duration | November 2024 to October 2027 |
Funded by | - Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany)
- Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche (France)
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Project participants | - Institute of Networked Energy Systems
- CEA
- GRT gaz (associated)
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The need for research is clear from position papers that have already been published. In 2021, for example, several gas transmission system operators shared a first vision of a trans-European network called “European Hydrogen Backbone”. Other studies shared different visions on the shape of the hydrogen network. These visions depend on expectations of future hydrogen demand (where, when, in what quantities), hydrogen production (where, at what price) and possible imports (from which countries, at what price). More detailed information on these developments is crucial for assessing the required infrastructure development.
From a scientific point of view, the CrossHy project therefore aims to provide knowledge that is critical for decision making on individual infrastructure projects. This requires increasingly complex models and more detailed datasets, particularly in the area of multi-energy modelling from European to local scales. For example, the quality of information, particularly on hydrogen demand, must be improved and various deployment scenarios taken into account. At the same time, the aim is to ensure the handling of major optimisation problems for more robust and plausible transition paths. On this basis, the modelling provides economic indicators for the overall system that help political decision-makers to coordinate public investments at an early stage and avoid misallocations. In addition, the project results will benefit industrial users by enabling more informed investment decisions based on an improved quantification of risks.
At the Institute of Networked Energy Systems, the project team's research focuses on the development and application of high-resolution models of multi-energy systems for electricity, natural gas, hydrogen, and heat. The analysis is based on the development of innovative modelling methods, in particular to illustrate the flexibility of hydrogen demand across different sectors and to better capture the operational dynamics of electricity and gas supply. Another work package of the institute is dedicated to the comprehensive evaluation of the identified future energy systems with regard to security of supply, resilience, sustainability and the economic opportunities of increased French-German cooperation.
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