As a leading public university committed to scientific research and higher education, the University of Trieste brings its academic strength and technical expertise to the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley (NAHV). In this interview, Rodolfo Taccani and Federico Del Mondo discuss the university’s contributions, highlighting its work on digital twins, hydrogen system modelling, and education. Rooted in a pluralistic and independent tradition, the university plays a key role in advancing both knowledge and infrastructure for a sustainable hydrogen economy.
Company Overview
Organisation Name: University of Trieste (UNITS)
Headquarters: Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Industry / activity: Public academic organisation / Research and Education
Representative: Roberto di Lenarda (Rector)
Interviewee: Rodolfo Taccani and Federico Del Mondo
What is your Unique Value Proposition?
The University of Trieste is a lay, pluralistic, public sector institution of higher education that is independent of any ideological, religious, political or economic orientation, in compliance with the principles of the Constitution of the Italian Republic and the international commitments Italy has undertaken in the fields of scientific research and university education.
The main objectives of the University are scientific research and higher education, in order to promote the cultural, civil, social and economic development in the Italian Republic. The University acknowledges that teaching and research are inseparable and that both, where envisaged, are inseparable from support services.
Your organisation’s role in the project:
The University of Trieste is leading Work Package 10 and is also actively involved in Work Packages 1, 2, 7, 9, and 11.
Interview
What is your vision of the use of renewable hydrogen and the hydrogen economy as a whole?
The integration of renewable hydrogen within the energy systems and the development of a hydrogen economy it is crucial to bridge the decarbonization gap that cannot be tackled by the renewable electrical energy itself. The decarbonization of some sectors as industry, chemical and energy intensive transportation cannot be satisfied only by the utilization of renewable electricity.
What are the main driving forces for the adoption of renewable hydrogen, and what are the major challenges for the ecosystem to successfully evolve?
The main key drivers in the adoption of renewable hydrogen are the need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and also the need to ensure energy security while fostering climate changes goals. Europe is setting decarbonization targets that encourage clear alternatives to fossil fuels, industries seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint while nations look for energy diversification and enhanced energy security. At the other side, the ecosystem faces several significant challenges. The major challenges regard the high cost of green hydrogen due to the complexity and the huge investment required across the hydrogen value chain.
Specifically, what are the major challenges for your organisation when it comes to renewable hydrogen?
As a university, we have a sustainability plan that encompass also the utilization of the renewable energy sources. At the academic level, we are launching the first year of the MSc program in Engineering for the Energy Transition, which includes a specific course on hydrogen and fuel cells. Moreover the devlopment of state-of-art laboratories infrastructure for advanced research and testing regarding hydrogen technologies requires huge investments.
What are your competencies related to renewable hydrogen that you would like to strengthen and share within the NAHV ecosystem?
The competences of our team lies in the development of mathematical models for complex energy systems, including the implementation of digital twins to optimize hydrogen-related processes. Additionally, our research foucuses on material characterization, with a particular focus on studying the degradation of electrochemical systems used for hydrogen production and utilization. Our expertise also extends to hydrogen storage technologies, including both compressed and cryogenic hydrogen.
What is your role in the NAHV, and what will be your main contribution to the objectives of the initiative?
Our main contribution is to leverage the team’s expertise in complex energy systems and digital twins to support the development and performance monitoring of hydrogen pilot facilities. Additionally, we contribute to the development of Digital Twins at the site and device levels to guide strategic decision-making and enhance the overall efficiency of the hydrogen supply chain within NAHV.
What are your long-term expectations from your involvement in the NAHV?
Our long-term expectations from our involvement in NAHV include contributing to the advancement of a sustainable hydrogen ecosystem by leveraging our expertise in system modeling, digital twins, and hydrogen technologies. We aim to foster collaboration among stakeholders, drive innovation in hydrogen production and utilization, and support the integration of renewable energy sources.
How would you like to contribute to the development of the entire ecosystem in the long run?
The University of Trieste’s will continue to support the energy transition also by the mean of hydrogen, from this we will continue to update the education offer and also to provide research both at low an high TRL.
What would you suggest to other protagonists who are interested in joining the initiative?
Joining the initiative will strenghten the overall initiative providing access to the latest advancements in hydrogen utilization, supporting the transition towards a greener future. Moreover, it allows stakeholders to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and leverage cutting-edge developments in the field of hydrogen.