The HyCoFlex Partnership
The project consortium is formed by a strong, balanced and complementary partnership of industrial key players and supported by renowned research institutions and covering the entire Hydrogen value chain. The project partners chose to collaborate based on their ability to achieve specific project objectives while ensuring the necessary expertise, a balanced transnational approach, and effective innovation, knowledge transfer, and uptake. The capacity of the consortium is ensured by the professionalism of each partner, together with their strong commitment to the HyCoFlex project, its implementation and its acceptance among stakeholders and end users.
Siemens Energy
Siemens Energy is the Coordinator of the HyCoFlex project. Siemens Energy provides the core SGT-400 core engine, develops the site testing matrix, provides site technical support during the site testing campaigns and maintains the electrolyser
ENGIE Energy Services
ENGIE Solutions is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the hydrogen production and storage facility, including the natural gas/hydrogen mixing station upstream of the turbine, as well as the operational management of the tests
ENGIE Laborelec
Laborelec will support ENGIE Solutions in the advancement of the integrated demo plant and the demonstration campaigns. For the latter, ENGIE Laborelec will be responsible for the data collection and analysis of the advanced plant concept once the tests have been concluded.
The German Aerospace Center
DLR is a research partner and will conduct high pressure testing under excellent optical access to the combustor for model validation and subsequently further development steps of injectors.
National Technical University of Athens
NTUA is a research partner and will carry out dynamic simulations for the operation of the integrated cogeneration system in transient conditions. NTUA will be also responsible for the techno-economic and environmental assessment and analyse upscaled scenarios for large cogeneration units and carry out replication studies.
PNO Innovation
PNO Innovation is a grant consultancy and leads the project’s communication and dissemination activities. Furthermore, PNO Innovation will support Siemens Energy in
the administrative management of the project and act as helpdesk for all partners related to administrative and financial matters.
Smurfit Westrock
Smurfit Westrocks paper mill in Saillat-sur-Vienne imports steam from the cogeneration plant in Saillat-sur-Vienne and complements the industrial partners as end user. SW will provide the boundary conditions and technical data based on their assets across EU for the dynamic simulations and replicability assessments. In addition, SW will cover circularity aspects related to the deployment of the HyCoFlex retrofit package.
Equinor
Equinor is an end user of cogeneration plants and a potential uptaker of the HyCoFlex retrofit package.
They will leverage on their vast experience in hydrogen demonstration projects and provide support and inputs for the project’s activities related to replication and upscaling. EQUINOR will support the advanced plant concept component update on site.
Centrax
Centrax is a GT service provider and will be responsible for the core engine swap at the pilot site as well as the upgraded fuel system.
Germany
SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KG
About
Siemens Energy is one of the world’s leading energy technology companies. The company works with its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. With its portfolio of products, solutions and services, Siemens Energy covers the entire energy value chain – from power generation and transmission to storage. The portfolio includes conventional and renewable energy technology, such as gas and steam turbines, hybrid power plants operated with hydrogen, and power generators and transformers.
More than 50 percent of the portfolio has already been decarbonized. A majority stake in the listed company Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) makes Siemens Energy a global market leader for renewable energies. An estimated one-sixth of the electricity generated worldwide is based on technologies from Siemens Energy.
Role in the project
Siemens Energy is the Project Coordinator. Siemens Energy will supply the electrolyser for hydrogen production and develop the hydrogen gas turbine.
France
Siemens Energy France (SEF)
Role in the project
Siemens Energy France* will be responsible for providing the interface and support locally between different Siemens entities, ENGIE, ENGIE Solutions H2, ENGIE Laborelec and CENTRAX. Siemens Energy France will be responsible for the local project coordination, awareness building, and dissemination of results.
* Linked third party
UK
Siemens Energy Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd. (SEITL)
Role in the project
Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery* will take charge of procuring and manufacturing components, including the modified hydrogen DLE combustor, which will be integrated into a Siemens Energy SGT-400 gas generator designated as the test unit. The engine assembly will feature enhanced health monitoring instrumentation, and Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery will also oversee the testing of this engine at their facility in Lincoln, UK prior to dispatch to site. Furthermore, they will define the text matrix and modify and supply the core engine control software for on-site testing and provide expert support from controls and combustion engineers to execute the defined test matrix effectively.
*Linked third party
France
ENGIE Energy Services
About
ENGIE Solutions is the sustainable ally of cities, industries and companies on the path to decarbonization. To accelerate their energy transition and better combine economic and energy performance, our 16,000 employees design energy mixes and facilities to meet our customers’ needs, according to their resources, thanks to a range of complementary solutions such as local energy networks, decarbonized energy production on their sites or energy performance services.
Our expertise extends across multiple sectors, notably hydrogen, where our teams are committed to the design, construction, and operation of hydrogen facilities.
ENGIE Solutions is a brand of the ENGIE group, a global benchmark in low-carbon energy and services, whose purpose is to act to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral world. ENGIE Solutions has sales of €5.8 billion in 2023.
Role in the project
ENGIE Solutions is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the hydrogen production and storage facility, including the natural gas/hydrogen mixing station upstream of the turbine, as well as the operational management of the tests.
France
ENGIE SOLUTIONS H2
About
ENGIE Solutions H2 is a subsidiary of ENGIE, dedicated to the design, construction, and operation of hydrogen facilities. Its mission is to advance the hydrogen economy by providing innovative and sustainable solutions that support the transition to clean energy.
Role in the project
ENGIE Solutions H2 will lead the work on the advancement of the demo plant, including concept component update. Following this, ESH2 will lead the demonstration campaigns on site.
Belgium
ENGIE Laborelec
About
Laborelec, an entity of ENGIE Research & Innovation, is a leading centre of expertise and research in the area of electrical energy. Drawing on the skills of 375 specialist engineers and technicians, it provides applied R&D services, technical consulting and operational support, operating across the entire electricity value chain. Its services support a wide range of customers in electricity generation, transmission, distribution, storage, and end-use, with a particular focus on the energy transition and net zero carbon. Laborelec is a global player active in more than 60 countries and has offices in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Role in the project
ENGIE Laborelec will support ENGIE Solutions in the advancement of the integrated demo plant and the demonstration campaigns. For the latter, ENGIE Laborelec will be responsible for the data collection and analysis of the advanced plant concept once the tests have been concluded.
Germany
DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EV
About
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is the national aeronautics and space research center of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, energy, transport, security and digitalisation is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. DLR’s mission comprises the exploration of Earth and the Solar System and research for protecting the environment. This includes the development of environment-friendly technologies for energy supply and future mobility, as well as for communications and security. DLR’s research portfolio ranges from fundamental research to the development of products for tomorrow. The Institute of Combustion Technology is focusing on improved understanding of gas turbine combustion. The fundamental goal is optimising gas turbine combustion concerning efficiency, flexibility, reliability and emissions. The infrastructure features various combustion facilities from small scale atmospheric up to 40 bar and sophisticated laser diagnostics to characterise combustion processes.
Role in the project
German Aerospace Center (DLR) will support the hydrogen turbine technology development.
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
About
The National Technical University (NTUA) is the oldest and most prestigious educational institution in Greece in the field of technology and has contributed unceasingly to the country’s scientific, technical & economic development since its foundation in 1836. The Laboratory of Thermal Processes of NTUA has a wide experience and is active for over 30 years in the field of thermal energy conversion technologies, focusing among other topics on Thermal Power Plant Technologies, Energy Storage, Hydrogen Production and Utilisation, Carbon Capture and Utilization, Power-to-gas, Power-to-Liquid and Power-to-Chemicals.
Role in the project
The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) will conduct dynamic simulations to analyse the performance of the integrated Power-to-H2-to-Power system under transient conditions. Additionally, NTUA will perform economic, environmental and social assessments of the concept, utilising multi-objective optimization tools to identify the optimal balance between economic profitability and environmental sustainability of the concept.
Germany
PNO Innovation GmbH
About
PNO Innovation GmbH, a company of the PNO Consultants Group, the European leader in collaboration engineering, consultancy and management services for international research and technology related partnerships. The team at AI has been built since 2006 and has set up and managed numerous projects in EU funding programmes. PNO Innovation GmbH builds and assists collaborative undertakings and in particular European research consortia and networks from all businesses and research sectors, small and large, private and public, to ensure their collaborative innovation ventures are as successful as possible. The service offer of PNO Innovation GmbH comprises provision of hands-on support, strategic consulting, and added value services all along the innovation life cycle: from the definition of a project idea and concept, the identification of a suitable funding scheme and the proposal development, to the management of the project and the dissemination and exploitation of the project results.
Role in the project
PNO Innovation will support the operational project management and the project’s communication and dissemination activities.
Netherlands
Smurfit Westrock Paper Services
About
Smurfit Westrock, a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging, operates in 40 countries with over 500 packaging converting operations and 62 paper mills. They offer an unparalleled portfolio of innovative packaging solutions ranging from corrugated and consumer packaging to Bag-in-Box® packaging and point-of-sale displays. With the circular economy at the core of our business, we use renewable, recyclable and recycled materials to create sustainable packaging solutions. As a trusted partner to companies across the world, Smurfit Westrock is dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. They are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate
Role in the project
Smurfit Westrocks paper mill in Saillat-sur-Vienne imports steam from the cogeneration plant in Saillat-sur-Vienne and complements the industrial partners as end user. SW will provide the boundary conditions and technical data based on their assets across EU for the dynamic simulations and replicability assessments. In addition, SW will cover circularity aspects related to the deployment of the HyCoFlex retrofit package.
Norway
EQUINOR ASA
About
Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Our purpose: Energy for people. Progress for society. Searching for better.
Role in the project
EQUINOR will leverage on their vast experience in hydrogen demonstration projects and provide support and inputs for the project’s activities related to replication and upscaling. EQUINOR will support the advanced plant concept component update on site and may provide 3rd party Hydrogen for the test campaigns.
UK
CENTRAX LIMITED
About
CENTRAX Limited, a privately-owned company based in Newton Abbot, Devon, in the Southwest of England, was established in 1946 to develop automotive and industrial gas turbines. Since 1979, CENTRAX has been a distributor for Allison, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens Industrial Gas Turbines, serving the European Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and Industrial Power Generation markets. Specialising in the manufacture and service of gas turbine-powered generator sets ranging from 3.9 MW to 15 MW, CENTRAX Gas Turbines integrates Siemens core engines. These generator sets are primarily used for combined heat and power but also support base load, simple cycle, and standby applications.
Role in the project
Centrax will upgrade the package for hydrogen operation and install the new turbine.