GENCOMM will address the energy sustainability challenges of NWE communities through the implementation of smart hydrogen-based energy matrixes. The project validates the maturity of hydrogen technologies by implementing 3 pilot plants that link the 3 main northwest European renewable sources (Solar Power, Wind Power, and Bioenergy) with energy storage and the main forms of energetic demand (Heat, Power and Transportation fuels). Based on the pilot plants; integrated technical and financial simulation models will be developed. Together, both models will form a Decision Support Tool (DST) that provides a roadmap for communities to transition to renewable, hydrogen-based energy matrixes. The final goal of the project is, through the combination of sources and forms of demand, to lead NWE’s road to sustainability while granting hydrogen its position as a commercially viable energy medium for the future.
Project General Objective
GENCOMM aims to technically and financially validate the renewable H2 value chain and adapt it to a DST that leads NWE communities into sustainable, local and autonomous energy matrixes. The DST is directed to community energy stakeholders (utilities, policy-makers, and private firms in the energy sector), as the key agents to implement the proposed matrix. The project will first engage energetically and territorial remote communities to then address the rest of NWE.
Project Specific Objectives
The following chart links the Hydrogen Value Chain and the Project's work packages.
62 62 New Forge Land, Belfast,
Belfast
BT9 5NF
United Kingdom
10 Hydepark Rd, Newtownabbey
Newtownabbey
BT36 4PY
United Kingdom
3 Hagdale Industrial Estate, Baltasound,
Shetland
ZE29TW
United Kingdom
1 University Road
Galway
Ireland
17 Altenkesseler Str.
Saarbrücken
66115
Germany
6 Boulevard Maréchal Juin
Caen
14050
France
685 Avenue de l'Université - BP 08
Saint Etienne du Rouvray
76801
France
52 Station Rd
Maghera
BT465EY
United Kingdom
VUB Vrije Universiteit Brussel Building Z, Pleinlaan
Brussels
1050 Elsene
Belgium
398 Springfield Road
Belfast
BT12 7DU
United Kingdom
Lead partner
| Organisation | Address | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast Metropolitan College |
398 Springfield Road Belfast BT12 7DU United Kingdom |
paulmccormack@belfastmet.ac.uk | www.belfastmet.ac.uk |
| Name | Contact Name | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viridian Energy Supply Limited | Mark Welsh | mark.welsh@energia.ie | United Kingdom |
| Hy Energy | Ian Williamson | ian.williamson@hy-energy.co.uk | United Kingdom |
| Pure Energy Centre | Elizabeth Johnson | elizabeth.johnson@pureenergycentre.com | United Kingdom |
| National University of Ireland Galway | Rory Monaghan | rory.monaghan@nuigalway.ie | Ireland |
| IZES gGmbH | Bodo Groß | gross@izes.de | Germany |
| ENSICAEN | Federico Azzolina-Jury | federico.azzolina-jury@ensicaen.fr | France |
| INSA Rouen Normandie | Isabelle Polaert | isabelle.polaert@insa-rouen.fr | France |
| TK Renewables | Kieran Mc Laughlin | kierantkr@gmail.com | United Kingdom |
| BURN Joint Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel | Francesco Contino | fcontino@vub.ac.be | Belgium |
The input of GenComm partners into helping two islands develop their hydrogen strategies is making headlines this week. Rathlin Island, (Co Antrim) and Valentia Island, (Co Kerry) are both making energetic strides. Read More
Dr Rory Monaghan from GenComm partner NUIG explains how hydrogen use can lead to a future decarbonised electricity system and how it can also enable the connection of Ireland's vast renewable energy potential with the country's energy system. Read More
The German hydrogen transport story continues with the news that the Hamburg police have added a hydrogen fuel cell patrol car to their fleet. Read More
Through the GenComm project the capability of personal FCEVs to become a reliable alternative for fossil fuels will be tested. GenComm partner IZES explore this further. Read More
Tubagus Aryandi Gunawan, PhD research student at GenComm partner NUIG is to give a presentation at the World Hydrogen Energy Conference. Read More
In Belfast on January 29th 2020 an announcement was made by Translink, the Energia Group, (GenComm partner) and Wrightbus regarding the introduction of Belfasts first ever hydrogen powered double decker buses. Read More
The launch of the Community Hydrogen Forum (CH2F) took place at Dublin City University on October 21, 2019. Read More
The eleventh GenComm partner meeting will be held at ENSICAEN in Caen, France in December 2019. Read More
As part of the communication and dissemination activities of the GenComm project Dr Bodo Groß from the German GenComm partner IZES gGmbh visited St Malachy's School in Belfast on Tuesday 15th October and on Friday 18th Dr Groß visited the Abbey Grammar School in Newry to present to students from the Abbey, Our Lady's Grammar School and St Paul's Secondary School. Read More
Invest NI can now help you investigate new innovative energy technologies for your business. Sam Knox, Invest NI, Business Development Executive and GenComm Steering Committee member points out the importance of the new energy surveys on offer. Read More
This free workshop will show how some of Northern Ireland's leading companies are embracing the clean energy route. The workshop will discuss the outputs of the GenComm project, safety training, the clean transport agenda, hydrogen refuelling and the benefits of the Hydrogen Transport Programme Fund for Northern Ireland.
Read More
A Hydrogen and Alternative Low-Emission Fuels Seminar was held at Belfast Met’s e3 Campus on November 28, 2019. The Seminar provided information on a range of zero carbon and low-emission sources of fuel related to the Clean Transport Agenda. Leading representatives from a number of companies including Energia, Translink, Molgas Energy, CNG Installations were involved in the discussion.
Read More
The launch of the Community Hydrogen Forum was in Dublin at the GenComm Partner Meeting on October 21. The forum will also be the home of the Decision Support Tool.
Read More
GenComm Team Dr Rory Monaghan, Paul McCormack and Kevin Verleysen will present at the EU Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels. Their Session titled 'Green Hydrogen decoupling the European Energy Network' is scheduled to take place on 19 June at 09:00.
Read More
The GenComm Project Partners' Meeting in June 2019 was held in Aberdeen. Among the topics discussed was the possibility of a hydrogen economy.
Read More
A number of the GenComm partners attended the All Energy Exhibition & Conference in Glasgow. The event is the UKs leading renewable energy event. It showcases the latest technologies and services for the energy supply chain.
Read More
An event to show how Valentia Island can enable irish communities to make the energy transition
Read More
This unique launch event on a transformative low carbon project will include guests from business and academia institutions from across Europe.
Read More
INSA Rouen meeting at Region Normandie Council, France, October 2018
Read More
PEC open meeting at Lewis College, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, June 2018
Read More
Lead Partner on 2 work packages Management and Communication. Project lead, management and administration, skills development and training. Core link with all other partners in the work packages and also linking in with associate partners in the UK in the public sector, communities and industry.
Energia will lead WP 7 project managing the planning, design, construction, testing and commissioning of large (500kW) hydrogen production facility pilot from wind energy. They will also have input in other work packages. Key expertise from Viridian includes renewable operations, energy trading and wind curtailment and modelling of the wind turbines.
Pure Energy are the Work Package lead for WP I3 the biogas/anaerobic digester to hydrogen pilot. They will deliver the design, supply and delivery of hydrogen system at a biogas plant site in the Western Isle
NUI Galway will manage Work Package 8 "Long term Effects" They are the partner in charge of the delivery of the Decision Support Tool (DST). NUI Galway is a member organisation of MaREI (Marine and Renewable Energy Ireland), a €30M Research Centre backed by industry partners and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). Dr Monaghan will leverage his role as a Funded Investigator in MaREI to avail of expertise and synergies with other EU and industry-funded projects.
IZES will be the lead in WPI2 encompassing the SOLH2TRANSP route encompassing a pilot Solar-fueled H2 Refueling Station (HRS). The partner’s main role is then to examine and solve 4 different issues: [1] Validate renewable hydrogen production from solar power, [2] Quantify the power demand of a semi-autonomous HRS for hydrogen-fueled vehicles (HFCV), [3] Study the optimal capacities and operation parameters a commercial refueling station should fulfill to supply HFCVs and, [4] create the PPRM.
Expertise in catalysis and catalytic processes development for smart hydrogen processes. Methanation pilot development, pilot scale up in WPI1, and technical process modeling in WPT1. Economical analysis of methanation, financial implications, cost benefits, carbon savings calculations in WPT2 that will serve in WPLT assisting with the delivery of Decision Support Tool.
INSA Rouen Normandie have extensive expertise in implementing a new energy-efficient technical model, hydrogen based, including renewable sources (solar, wind, biogas), hydrogen production, storage and methanation. Expertise in catalytic processes development for methanation: pilot development, pilot scale up, technical and economical process modeling. They will work as a partner in WPI3,the biogas to hydrogen plant developing the methanation process as well as working on WP1, WP2 and WP3.
TK Renewables will bring their mechanical, electrical and technical expertise to the project working with the partners. They will lead WP4 the Implementation Commercial package to develop and validate the market for the pilot plant outputs.
The BURN (comBUstion and Robust optimizatioN) joint research group is part of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and contribute to this project as a partner involved in several work packages.
NORTHERN IRELAND
www.belfastmet.ac.uk
Paul Mc Cormack, GenComm Programme Manager, +44 (0)2890 265076 PaulMcCormack@belfastmet.ac.uk
Anne Artt, GenComm Operations and Communications Manager, +44 (0)2890 265276 aartt@belfastmet.ac.uk
Peter Smyth, GenComm Finance Manager, +44 (0)2890 265474 PSmyth@belfastmet.ac.uk
NORTHERN IRELAND
www.virdiangroup.co.uk
Mark Welsh, Energia
SCOTLAND
https://pureenergycentre.com
Elizabeth Johnston, Pure Energy Centre, Stornoway
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
www.nuigalway.ie
Dr Rory Monaghan, NUI Galway
GERMANY
www.izes.de
Bodo, IZES gGmbH
FRANCE
www.eniscaen.fr
Justine Delarogue, Eniscaen
FRANCE
www.insa-rouen.fr
Isabelle Polaert, INSA Rouen Normandie
NORTHERN IRELAND
TK Renewables
Kieran Mc Laughlin, TK Renewables
BELGIUM
burn-research.be
Francesso Contino, University Brussel
ENGLAND
Hy Energy
Ian Williamson, Hy Energy, Berkshire, England
