H2BRIDGE - Advancing Solar Hydrogen Production through Photocatalytic Printed Panels
H2BRIDGE
Funders
Project information
Project duration
-
Funding amount
1 156 587 EUR
Project coordinator
University of Oulu
Unit and faculty
Contact information
Project leader
- Project Coordinator
Project description
H2BRIDGE is an Interreg Aurora-funded research and innovation project that addresses the transition to sustainable energy in the northern regions of Finland and Sweden. The project is developing an innovative and scalable panel reactor system that uses printed photocatalytic panels to produce so-called solar hydrogen. The process thus enables a cost-effective and low-emission energy solution, especially for northern conditions.
The project is being carried out in collaboration between the University of Oulu and Luleå University of Technology. Both are located in areas that are significant industrial centers and therefore also significant producers of carbon dioxide. H2BRIDGE is responding to this challenge by developing technology that supports the green transition of industry and promotes regional competitiveness through low-emission energy.
The project targets small and medium-sized enterprises in the renewable energy and hydrogen sectors in particular. The project also involves close cooperation with local stakeholders such as municipalities and Sámi communities. The planning takes into account accessibility, environmental protection, and the perspectives and acceptability of local communities.
H2BRIDGE supports several sustainable development goals, such as affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), climate action (SDG 13), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17). The project is in line with the EU's carbon neutrality goals, the European Green Deal, and the EU Hydrogen Strategy.
Alongside technological development, the project also promotes regional growth, education, and skills development, and strengthens long-term cross-border cooperation between industry, research, and communities in the Nordic countries and Arctic regions. It demonstrates in concrete terms how new innovations can enable sustainable energy production in Arctic conditions and bring the hydrogen economy closer to everyday life.
Project actions
H2BRIDGE is divided into three separate work packages. Luleå University of Technology is responsible for the first work package. In this work package, Luleå University of Technology and the OPEM unit at the University of Oulu are developing materials whose structural and optical properties have been optimized for advanced printing technologies. The materials combine high photocatalytic activity for solar water splitting with ink compatibility for scalable production of photocatalytic sheets.
Green chemistry synthesis improves light absorption, active area density, and charge carrier dynamics. The performance of the material is further improved by doping and composite formation, with the goal of achieving a solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency of over 5%. Comprehensive microscopy and spectroscopy analysis evaluates structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties.
The second work package, which is the responsibility of the OPEM unit, optimizes the printing properties of the materials developed in the first work package, focusing on rheology, printability, and pre- and post-processing stages. The work package will ensure that the materials can be processed into uniform, high-quality printing inks. Key activities include adjusting the properties of the materials to ensure uniform deposition, evaluating quality, and ensuring reliable photocatalytic performance under reactor conditions. The result is fully optimized photocatalytic plates that are ready for integration into the panel reactor developed in the third work package.
The third work package involves developing and testing a modular panel reactor equipped with replaceable printed photocatalytic plates for producing hydrogen using solar energy. The work carried out in NANOMO is currently taking the design, which is at TRL 3–4 level, towards a scalable reactor concept suitable for industrial use. The technical specifications of the reactor will be defined in collaboration with the first and second work packages and industrial partners. Geometry, light absorption, and flow dynamics are optimized using simulation to maximize hydrogen production. During the project, NANOMO will manufacture and assemble a prototype reactor using environmentally friendly materials.
The H2BRIDGE project is led by Filipp Temerov. The primary contacts for research topics are the project's professors and researchers.
