Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking or Clean Hydrogen Partnership is a unique public-private partnership supporting research and innovation (R&I) activities in hydrogen technologies in Europe. It builds upon the success of its predecessor, the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
This topic targets the development and validation of low-cost advanced hydrogen-compatible materials and tank architectures for aboveground compressed hydrogen storage, with modular or containerised units sized 5 – 20 tonnes.
Proposed solutions should demonstrate improved material resilience against hydrogen-induced degradation, ≥30% increase in fatigue life (from <5,000 cycles to ≥6,500 cycles at 700 bar), and enhanced performance across varying environmental conditions (temperature range: –40 °C to +60 °C).
Materials may include high-strength steels, fibre/nanoparticle-reinforced composites, metal-matrix composites, and multi-layer coatings with low hydrogen permeability.
Detailed Call Description
Projects should prioritise recycled or low-carbon footprint materials, energy-efficient processing (e.g., friction stir welding, heat treatment), and designs enabling ≥70% recyclability and ≥25% reduction in embodied CO₂ (baseline: 15–18 kg CO₂/kg H₂ stored). Validated digital design tools, fatigue/fracture models, and AI-enabled tank material design and optimisation should support predictive low-cost manufacturing, maintenance and safety optimisation of the storage system. Storage systems should target CAPEX ≤ 450 €/kg H₂ stored and exhibit long-term structural integrity under ≥6,500 pressure cycles.
Validated multi-physics simulations should account for fracture, permeability, fire safety, and delivery pressure loss, complemented by lab-scale and pilot-scale testing. Outcomes should support the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) sharing of mechanical performance data and demonstrate pathways toward scalable deployment in Hydrogen Valleys and industrial hubs. To overcome the gaps mentioned above, proposals should address the following:
- Generate new knowledge on the mechanical performance of low-cost compressed hydrogen storage solutions (e.g., high-strength steels, fibre- and nanoparticle-reinforced polymers, aluminium alloys and composites, hybrid/nano composites, multi-layer coated materials) under low-cycle fatigue and pressure variations in hydrogen environments using simulation-driven fatigue, fracture, and deformation models, validated by lab testing in hydrogen environments.
- Investigate degradation mechanisms like permeability loss, embrittlement, corrosion, and material cracking. Emphasise hydrogen purity monitoring before and after storage using full metal and composite liners in controlled environments to simulate operational hydrogen cycling without relying on full-scale demonstrators.
- Assess and optimise the structural performance of various tank types using recycled materials, tanks with liners and coatings. Perform integrity assessments (fracture, porosity, pressure) and develop standardised acceptance testing protocols covering fire safety, weld quality, permeability, and insulation.
- Ensure there are safety provisions in place to exclude tank rupture, long jet flames, flammable cloud formation in naturally ventilated confined spaces, mitigation of the pressure peaking phenomenon in any enclosed rooms.
- Novel tank architectures should incorporate fire safety provisions such as self-venting behaviour to enhance resilience during accidental exposure to fire.
- Design high-performance foundation and support structures (e.g., concrete plinths or buffer layers) to ensure even load distribution and minimise stress concentrations around hydrogen storage tanks. These structures should demonstrate excellent pumpability, self-compacting behaviour, and stability under thermal and mechanical loads.
- Projects should generate knowledge on the influence of environmental and operational conditions—such as temperature fluctuations, wind loads, seismic activity, and foundation settlement—on the durability and safety of above-ground compressed hydrogen storage systems using advanced simulations and modelling techniques.
- Develop preliminary guidelines for material and weld design in hydrogen-exposed tanks and propose a standardised design framework covering tank architecture, material integration, safety margins, and resilience to industrial or natural hazards (e.g., fire, earthquakes, extreme temperatures).
- Investigate advanced real-time monitoring technologies integrating embedded sensors, non-destructive testing, and Generative AI analytics to detect strain, leakage, and degradation—supporting predictive maintenance and future harmonisation of hydrogen storage design standards.
- Validate the design through comprehensive simulation and physical testing, using coupled mechanical, thermal, and hydrogen interaction models.
- A physical proof of concept (PoC) will be developed to assess the impact of cyclic hydrogen pressurisation on key components such as the composite inner liner, metallic shell, insulation layer, and support structures. The PoC will be informed by lab-scale testing and full-system simulations, with recommendations for scaling to commercial demonstration at all levels (5-20 tonnes).
- Evaluate how storage materials and configurations affect hydrogen purity per ISO 14687, identifying degradation mechanisms and purification needs to optimise CAPEX/OPEX and lifecycle performance.
Publicly share validated mechanical performance data following FAIR principles, embedding recyclability and circularity for sustainable, cost-effective hydrogen storage system design.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
Expected EU contribution per project: €4.00 million.
Thematic Categories
- Economy-Finances
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Industry
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Information Technology
- Processing
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
Eligibility for Participation
- Associations
- Central Government
- Educational Institutions
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- Natual person / Citizen / Individual
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Services Providers
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
Additional eligibility condition: Maximum contribution per topic
For some topics, in line with the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA, an additional eligibility criterion has been introduced to limit the Clean Hydrogen JU requested contribution mostly for actions performed at high TRL level, including demonstration in real operational environment and with important involvement from industrial stakeholders and/or end users such as public authorities. Such actions are expected to leverage co-funding as commitment from stakeholders. It is of added value that such leverage is shown through the private investment in these specific topics. Therefore, proposals requesting contributions above the amounts specified per each topic below will not be evaluated
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-03-03: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 5.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-04-02: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 8.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-06-01: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 17.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-06-02: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 8.00 million
Additional eligibility condition: Membership to Hydrogen Europe / Hydrogen Europe Research
For the topics listed below, in line with the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA, an additional an additional eligibility criterion has been introduced to ensure that one partner in the consortium is a member of either Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research. This concerns topics targeting actions for large-scale demonstrations, flagship projects and strategic research actions, where the industrial and research partners of the Clean Hydrogen JU are considered to play a key role in accelerating the commercialisation of hydrogen technologies by being closely linked to the Clean Hydrogen JU constituency, which could further ensure full alignment with the SRIA of the JU. This approach shall also ensure the continuity of the work performed within projects funded through the H2020 and FP7, by building up on their experience and consolidating the EU value-chain. In the Call 2026 this applies to: development and demonstration of flexible and standardised hydrogen storage systems and demonstration and operation of reversible solid oxide cell systems operation for local grid-connected hydrogen production and utilisation. This will also apply to the Hydrogen Valleys (flagship) topics as they are considered of strategic importance for the European Union ambitions to double the number of Hydrogen Valleys by 2025 as well as to the more recent European Commission’s inspirational target to have at least 50 Hydrogen Valleys under construction or operational by 2030 across the entire EU. For the Hydrogen Valleys topics a large amount of co-investment/co-funding of project participants/beneficiaries including national and regional programmes is expected.
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-03-03
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-04-02
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-06-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-06-02
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.