The importance of Hydrogen as a vector for the decarbonization of sectors such as industry and heavy transport could allow a deep penetration of renewables as a primary source in the energy matrix, in line with the objectives expressed in the National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 (PNEC2030) and Roadmap for Carbon Neutrality (RNC2050), said the DGEG Director, João Bernardo. A patent matrix in the EN-H2 National Hydrogen Strategy, which was in public consultation, and whose potential impacts are expressed in the DGEG study "Hydrogen Integration in Value Chains".

Pedro Horta, CER-UÉ Chairman, framed the topic Green Hydrogen in CER-UÉ's activities, competencies, and strategy. From a technologically "agnostic" approach to the use of solar resources in the development of solutions for the decarbonization of the economy, two forms of solar green hydrogen production were presented: water electrolysis based on desalination systems and photovoltaic solar production; and pyrolysis of biomass based on solar reactors through concentration systems. For both routes – photovoltaic or thermal – indicators were made available on the maturity of technologies, expected range of sun conversion yields – hydrogen and production costs and prospects for internalizing their value chains in the national economy. This last aspect, coupled with the potential for recovery that the use of biomass resources presents, deserved special interest in a perspective of monetization of the country's strategic investment as an "early adopter" of Green Hydrogen production technologies.

The articulation of CER-UÉ's competencies and activities with the theme of Solar Green Hydrogen was expressed in areas such as photovoltaic, through activities of development of performance models and production forecast of photovoltaic systems in network, with different technologies of electric storage, development of algorithms and control systems, optimization of performance or definition of specifications and methodologies for monitoring the performance of floating photovoltaic systems. Associated with the experience of assembly and operation of an electrolyzer with connection to an autonomous photovoltaic system planned for the 2nd phase of operation of the Évora Pole of INIESC - National Research Infrastructure on Concentration Solar Energy, the existing competencies at CER-UÉ allow the development of R&D activities that address pressing issues in the field of Green Hydrogen production by photovoltaic route , such as the impact of the fluctuation of available power on electrolyzer performance, the development of offshore solar fields, the use of electric storage capacity as a control element and production optimization.

In the field of Hydrogen production by means of biomass pyrolysis in solar reactors, activities were presented in the field of the development of point concentration optics and their potential coupling to solar reactors, and the experimental evaluation of the thermochemical potential of different biomass samples for the production of synthesis gas through pyrolysis and thermolysis. This activity, approved under the scheme of access to research infrastructures of the INSHIP project (Integrating National Research Agendas on Solar Heat for Industrial Processes), is developed in partnership with the Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED) and will take place at the ETH Zurich facilities. This action is intended for the experimental evaluation of the thermochemical potential of different biomass samples to produce synthesis gas through pyrolysis and thermolysis. The selection of biomass samples was carried out by the MED, considering aspects of availability and interest of use for the Alentejo region. Nuno de Almeida Ribeiro (MED) explained the strengths of the team in the development of methodologies for sustainable management of forest systems, where the use of woody biomass will be extremely important in preventing fires, in ordering the landscape and in generating capacity for reinvestment forestry.

Based on the interest in the joint debate on the different technological alternatives to the production of Green Solar Hydrogen, CER-UÉ and DGEG agreed to organize a seminar on this subject. Given the scope of the public visibility of the photovoltaic/electrolysis option it was suggested that this Seminar could be dedicated exclusively to the discussion of biomass pyrolysis based on solar reactors, including its potential impacts on the internalization of the value chain and the generation of activity in the agricultural and forestry sector.

The work-day ended with a meeting with the Rector of UÉ, Ana Costa Freitas, and a visit to the facilities of the Évora Molten Salt Platform (EMSP), at the University of Évora, which is scheduled to open next year.