What happened on the Kick-off meeting?

• October 2, 2023

The H2Heat Project recently embarked on an exciting journey in the vibrant city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where innovation converges with renewable energy. This groundbreaking project focuses on harnessing renewable energy sources to produce carriers for heating.

Day 1 – Building the Foundation

The first day (27th September, 2023) began at the Explanada Vapores Insulares, where participants gathered. The day commenced with a warm welcome, followed by presentations from key figures who outlined the project’s objectives. The Press Conference was successful and the news has been published in three of the four newspapers in the Canary Islands in the two with the largest circulation.

The European Commission has recognised the particular difficulties faced by islands with isolated energy systems to achieve climate neutrality while ensuring their sustainability as tourist destinations. The Canary Islands have no gas network and so H2 will be an essential RE carrier for decarbonisation. H2HEAT is an ambitious yet realistic project which will deliver deep decarbonization of buildings using locally produced green H2. To realize this vision, H2HEAT will bring together investors, industry, and government to ramp up and coordinate their efforts. 

They also answered inquiries from the press to ensure everyone had a clear understanding of the project’s goals.

At the Press Event :

• Joaquin Brito: CEO of PLOCAN
• Javier Franco Hormiga, Director of the Canarian Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI).
• Raúl Falcón Gracia, Deputy Director of Sustainability Management and Ecological Transition of the Canary Islands Health Service of Health (Servicio Canario de la Salud)
• Dr. Gordon Dalton, Lead Project coordinator

As the day unfolded, the kick-off meeting agenda delved into various facets of the project. Presentations encompassed planning, acquisition, construction, commissioning, and communication strategies. The presentations were presented by all of the consortium work package leaders. These sessions offered a comprehensive overview of the project’s scope and potential impact. A memorable group photo captured the spirit of collaboration among participants.

The work packages presented:

Work Package 1

Leader – PLOCAN: Planning and preparation phase

Covers overall detailed project plan preparation including budget and detailed Gantt, all required consenting and permitting, EIA, resource and demand forecasting, site survey, techno-economic analysis, H&S strategy and plan. Ongoing environmental impact studies will be completed during the test period.

Work Package 2

Leader – PLOCAN: Definition and acquisition phase

Includes all detailed designs with functional and technical specifications for technologies requiring innovation in the overarching control system procurement. This WP also covers the procurement of the project equipment including components and preparation of the H2 production/storage site.

Work Package 3

Leader – Stargate Hydrogen: Build and installation phase

All technologies and equipment that require innovation and construction will be delivered in this WP. This includes software development relating to the Control System. The RE power cabling will be connected. The Test Team will deliver the Test strategy and plans with comprehensive KPIs, covering FAT, SAT and full demo trials. FAT must be passed at each technology partner facility prior to transport to the H2HEAT location. The H2 facility including electrolyser and storage will be prepared and kitted out. All equipment will be delivered to the PLOCAN H2 site facility or hospital consumer as appropriate and installed.

Work Package 4

Leader – 2G: Commission, Demonstration and Test Phase

This WP will cover the full commissioning, demo and testing of complete supply chain from RE conversion, to hydrogen production and onto generation of heating at the hospital. The demo will include extensive monitoring and optimisation cycles. 

Work Package 5

Leader – EMEC Exploitation and commercialisation

This WP runs in parallel with the above phases working closely with WP7 D&C. It will establish an Exploitation Working Group and deliver the full Exploitation Plan.

Work Package 6

Leader – PLOCAN Project coordination and management

This WP will coordinate all the different activities and manage risks. It will establish the Advisory Board and maximise the effectiveness of these valuable experts. The WP also covers the IP and knowledge management strategy and project contracting.

Work Package 7

Leader – ICORSA Dissemination and Communication and QH engagement

This WP will also run in parallel throughout the project. It will also be responsible for full initial and ongoing socio-economic analysis.

*See the full list of consortium partners here -> PARTNERS

Day 2 – Immersive Site Visits

The second day (28th of September) of the H2Heat Project event served as an immersive exploration of the project’s practical aspects. Participants embarked on a visit to the H2 production site at the Jinamar Hospital, a pivotal hub for hydrogen production and storage. Experts guided them through the intricacies of hydrogen production, compression, storage, and transport, providing valuable insights into renewable energy solutions. The electrolyser will be installed by partner Stargate Hydrogen in the dedicated PLOCAN on-shore site in Las, Palmas, Gran Canaria. Stargate is a pioneer in next generation green H2 production and zero emission solutions. A key innovation that will be demonstrated are the nanoceramics active materials in Stargate’s electrolyser which contain no precious metals, resulting in significantly lower H2 production costs while maintaining excellent efficiency. RE from the Esteyco OSW turbines will be connected to the H2 facility, together with a grid supply, feeding into a specifically designed control and energy management system (EMS). H2HEAT will firstly understand the hospitals requirements as the heat (including for heating water) as H2HEAT will be supplying a substantial part of the hospital’s overall requirement. 

In the afternoon, the group journeyed to the CHUIMI Hospital, where they had the opportunity to explore the combined heat and power systems and cutting-edge hydrogen storage facilities. The day’s activities fostered a deeper understanding of renewable energy applications. The H2HEAT project will serve as the replicable model to be rolled out across the SCS hospitals contributing to the SCS ambitious ‘Health Zer0 net Emissions Strategy 2030’ delivering deep decarbonization in the Health sector. 40% of total energy consumed and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU correspond to buildings, with 79% of that energy used for heating of water and air conditioning.

Partner SCS is in charge of analysing the integration of the H2 vector in its hospitals’ heating and energy systems on the Canary Islands. The control system and EMS will deliver dynamic results which means that the entire system from RE supply to the electrolyser, storage, including the CHP, can compensate for surplus and low amounts of power from renewable power generation by balancing power locally or, on the higher level, with balancing energy in the sub-station .The SCS is part of the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate Change and Health (ATACH) of the WHO.

2G will also integrate a heat pump as part of the innovative combined heating system, which will use the energy produced by the H2-CHP. The heat pump will have a high Coefficient of Performance (COP) and combined with the H2-CHP heat output, will meet most of CHUIMI heat requirements.

Day 3 – Offshore Exploration

The third day brought an air of excitement as participants prepared for an offshore adventure. The destination was the PLOCAN offshore platform, a focal point for offshore energy innovations. Contingencies were in place, including a visit to Las Palmas port and the EnerOcean device, should adverse weather conditions hinder the offshore journey.

At PLOCAN, participants received warm greetings from the project’s leadership team and embarked on a tour of the facility. Safety was paramount, with participants provided safety gear, ensuring their well-being during the visit.

The highlight of the day was a boat trip around the PLOCAN Platform and the Elisa wind turbine, providing a close-up view of renewable energy installations. Back on solid ground, they explored electrical systems, gaining insights into export cables and smart grid technology.

The Partners also received an informative presentation on H2Heat plans and equipment, gaining a glimpse into the future of sustainable energy.

The H2Heat Project’s kick-off event proved to be a captivating journey into the realm of renewable energy. With its commitment to harnessing renewable sources for heating, this project promises a greener future. Stay tuned for more updates on this remarkable initiative that aims to revolutionize how we heat our homes while preserving the planet.