With the aim of promoting a cross-border renewable hydrogen ecosystem in the Galicia–Northern Portugal Euroregion, the consortium coordinated by the Automotive Technology Centre of Galicia (CTAG), which includes the Energy Technology Group (GTE) from the Research Center for Technologies, Energy and Industrial Processes of the University of Vigo (CINTECX), launches the VALLE_H2GAP project, a strategic initiative co-funded by the INTERREG POCTEP programme.
During the launch event held at CTAG’s facilities in O Porriño, institutional representatives, innovation system stakeholders, business entities, and consortium partners highlighted the growing interest in hydrogen as a strategic vector for the energy transition.
The contribution of the CINTECX GTE group to this project focuses on the experimental development of solutions for integrating renewable hydrogen into energy distribution networks. Specifically, the team will work on the design of a blending pilot that will allow the analysis of hydrogen mixtures under controlled conditions representative of real operation. This pilot will generate technical knowledge on key aspects such as flow control, concentration measurement, mixture homogeneity, component compatibility, leak detection, safety, and the operation of equipment in environments with hydrogen presence, contributing to advancing the development of future dedicated networks.
Training for a sustainable energy transition
Among its main lines of work, the VALLE_H2GAP project will address the analysis of international experiences, the definition of deployment models adapted to the territory, the development of demonstration actions to validate the technical and economic feasibility of hydrogen-based solutions, and the implementation of training and capacity-building activities aimed at generating specialized talent.
In this regard, the work of CINTECX researchers will play a significant role in the project’s training and capacity-building activities. As highlighted by GTE researcher Concepción Paz Penín, “from GTE-CINTECX we will actively contribute to the training and capacity-building activities planned in VALLE_H2GAP, providing technical content and specialized workshops related to the integration of hydrogen into distribution networks.” Their work will also enable the evaluation of technological solutions and the analysis of their social, economic, and environmental benefits.
CINTECX is part of this consortium made up of 10 entities from Galicia and Northern Portugal, representing the entire renewable hydrogen value chain: Public Administrations (INEGA–Xunta de Galicia), business associations (Galician Hydrogen Association and Portuguese Hydrogen Promotion Association), Technology Centers (CTAG, INEGI), a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (GNP, EGTC), and Universities (USC, UVIGO, UDC, UTAD).