CLEANHYPRO showcases path to TRL acceleration
Guest/partner contributor
Posted on: 31 March 2026
The CLEANHYPRO project presents a strategy for integrating digital solutions across the renewable and low carbon hydrogen production electrolysis value chain.
The energy transition requires a massive increase in renewable and low carbon hydrogen production, which has seen installed electrolyser capacity grow nine-fold since 2021.
Addressing this acceleration was the focus of the 'Digital technologies for RES' session at Enlit Europe 2025, where Bart Goes, representing the CLEANHYPRO project, outlined a strategy for integrating digital solutions across the electrolysis value chain.
CLEANHYPRO methodology
The foundation of CLEANHYPRO’s approach is the belief that digital technologies are essential to automate and standardise every step of the renewable hydrogen value chain.
- Manufacturing and components: Digitalisation is applied to core components, including electrodes, membranes, catalysts and bipolar plates, for better automation. This includes the automated manufacturing of catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) and the 3D-printed fabrication of complete solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC).
- Modelling and design: Digital tools are employed for modelling, simulation, control and design, facilitating efficiency and precision.
- Certification and operation: Digital technology is leveraged for product certification, including renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO), often employing solutions like blockchain.
Goes stressed the critical interdependence of these elements, stating: “CLEANHYPRO aims to facilitate the adoption of electrolysis technologies and build the full hydrogen value chain. Digital technologies are key, particularly in manufacturing, to help us automate our systems for the highest efficiency. However, digital technologies are not enough if they are not combined with policies that help advance the EU transition.”
Results and impact: Accelerating SMEs via open calls
The project’s main mechanism for validating this integrated infrastructure is through demonstrations: four planned showcases and two open calls.
The first wave of open calls attracted ten applications from across Europe, including Spain, Germany, Estonia, the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK. Following a rigorous evaluation, six applications were selected, representing a diverse mix of three startups, two SMEs and one large enterprise.
CLEANHYPRO aims to upscale and upgrade nine pilot lines while developing associated services to provide qualified electrolysis materials and essential components, meeting industrial needs.
The technology infrastructure is specifically designed for industrial players, especially SMEs, who seek support to develop and integrate innovative technologies towards commercialisation.
The open calls provide successful applicants with services free of charge, which may have a value of up to €150,000 per project. Crucially, there is no transfer of funds to beneficiaries (no cascade funding). This structure eliminates the administrative burden, allowing the company to focus entirely on the project.
While the first wave is now closed, a second wave of open Cclls is set to launch later this year. We encourage innovators to stay connected for more information on how to access these fully supported services.
Future of scalable hydrogen
The presentation clearly positioned CLEANHYPRO not just as a research initiative, but as a crucial accelerator for industrial-scale hydrogen production. The project demonstrates that by combining automated manufacturing and predictive digital tools with comprehensive service support, Europe can effectively meet the growing global demand for renewable hydrogen, a fundamental energy carrier and chemical building block for new applications.
The goal is set to create the multi-centre technology infrastructure by October 2027.
Explore more and stay tuned for our upcoming opportunities at the project website and on Linkedin.
About the authors
Raquel Amaral has over 5 years of experience managing high impact European projects. She specialises in leading communication, dissemination and quality management strategies. For the past two years, she has focused on driving innovation within the Horizon Europe framework.
Michalis Vasilakis has more than 15 years of active participation and work in civil society in different types of initiatives. During his experience he has actively participated in national and international networks and beyond this, he also possesses experience in the corporate sector, particularly in Horizon Europe project management.
