Main Impacts

Pathway 1

Enabling the development of clean, reliable and efficient hydrogen combustion technology via science-based predictive capabilities

This pathway will directly contribute to reduce the development costs of gas turbine combustion systems by significantly reducing the industry dependence on expensive full-scale/full-load testing and reliance on inefficient trial-and-error development approaches. New insights and improved understanding of the physics controlling flame stability and emissions in high-pressure premixed combustion of hydrogen are crucial to the development and improvement of science-based models, methods and tools. This will both impact industrial technology-development costs and timelines, allowing for more cost-efficient advances in the design of fuel flexible combustion systems that can seamlessly switch between very disparate energy vectors, like hydrogen and natural gas (as backup fuel), ensuring security of the electricity supply.

InsigH2t will provide novel insights, detailed fundamental knowledge and improved predictive capabilities with regard to the physical processes controlling static and dynamic flame stabilisation and NOx emissions in combustion systems. This will result in better science-based industrial development tools and improved predictive capabilities, reducing the present reliance on expensive full-scale/full-load testing, and ultimately leading to cost-efficient industrial development of advanced combustion systems.

Pathway 2

Facilitating carbon-free power generation while retaining the advantages of gas turbines

This pathway will directly contribute to the ambitious aims of the Green Deal towards reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 which is further in line with the Clean Planet for All strategy and the Paris Agreement. The pathway furthermore implements the Clean Hydrogen Partnership’s mission to facilitate the transition to a greener EU society through the development of hydrogen technologies. The main goal is to enable gas turbines to operate using 100% H2, while maintaining the highest possible levels of conversion efficiencies while keeping NOx emissions at the lowest. InsigH2t therefore directly supports objectives of Pillar 3.2 of the Clean Hydrogen JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA).

  • Advance fundamental knowledge. InsigH2t will provide novel pathways, detailed fundamental knowledge and improved predictive capabilities with regards to the physical processes which control static and dynamic flame stabilization in combustion systems. This can ultimately result in combustion efficiency improvements, further optimisation of combustor designs and operating strategies.
  • Advancing the understanding on hydrogen combustion physics that can be translated to extend the fuel capabilities of gas turbines to hydrogen. By this, their role can become predominant in the energy transition, thus enabling the future net-zero energy system. Subject to establishment of supply chains for H2 in areas with a high proportion of intermittent electricity, this transition is expected to begin by 2030.
  • Decarbonising electric power sector and industrial processes by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity generation. InsigH2t will present enhanced design methodology for gas injectors and combustion technology that has the potential for replication and upscaling, thus can be deployed in any application that is using of gas turbines for electricity generation.
  • Increased flexibility. Gas turbines are known for their ability to ramp up and down quickly, making them ideal for balancing the grid when there are fluctuations in demand. By continuing to use gas turbines but with carbon-free fuel, the benefits of flexibility can be maintained while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Pathway 3

Contribution to innovative sustainable technologies

This pathway directly contributes to the Clean Hydrogen Partnership’s vision to support a sustainable hydrogen economy, contributing to EU’s climate goals accelerating the market entry of innovative competitive clean solutions. The final goal is to contribute to a sustainable, decarbonised and fully integrated EU energy system, and to the EU’s Hydrogen Strategy, playing an important role in the implementation of its roadmap towards a climate neutrality and circular European Society.

  • Fostering sustainable innovation. The shift toward decarbonised power generation promotes research and development of innovative technologies, fostering advancements in sustainable practices and encouraging the wider combustion scientific community to embrace cutting-edge solutions. InsigH2t will serve as a catalyst for advancing the industry’s innovation capacity and for integration of new knowledge. By adopting environmentally friendly technologies and processes, OEMs can enhance their technical expertise and adaptability.
  • Improving EU competitiveness and industrial leadership by position companies at the forefront of the transition to a low-carbon economy, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and innovation. InsigH2t will provide a competitive advantage for OEMs as the improved knowledge generated will lead to shorter and more efficient development cycles while avoiding trial and error development approaches.
  • Reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Contributing extensive carbon-free on-demand response power to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, thus reducing Europe’s vulnerability to external pressure, whether from international market volatility or political events.
  • Providing opportunities to utilise existing infrastructure. InsigH2t will deliver deep physical understanding and new models for stabilisation, flashback and blow-off for lean premixed H2-air flames which can in principle be transferred for the optimisation of any industrial burner design. Ultimately, this can result in the retrofit of existing assets which can extend their lifespan and maintain their economic viability, while reducing the need for new construction and the associated costs and environmental impacts.
  • Knowledge transfer to other industries. Premixed turbulent flames are widely used in combustion systems in hard-to-abate industries for both the generation of electricity as well as process heat. With the increased use of hydrogen in these industries, the knowledge generated in InsigH2t becomes highly relevant for the optimisation and decarbonisation of industrial burners. InsigH2t will ensure that the fundamental understanding on combustion characteristics and stability limits of premixed hydrogen flames will be transferred. Through that, InsigH2t will contribute indirectly to efforts targeting the decarbonisation of energy intense industries. In addition, exchange with the aviation sector will be facilitated due to consistencies in fundamental principles of combustion across both stationary gas turbines and jet engines.