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TiNTHyN

Collaborative research of excellence in the hydrogen sector structured around the IIS e-WallonHY action plan and the associated scientific and industrial challenges

Objectives

The TiNTHyN project aims to carry out collaborative and high-level scientific research in the field of hydrogen. The aim is to enable the development of skills and the rise in maturity of innovative low TRL (2-4) technologies in the field of hydrogen and thus meet the industrial needs of the players and the challenges of the sector. The objectives pursued are:

  • The creation of a solid base at the level of the Walloon Region for academic expertise in hydrogen, by establishing a core of early-career researchers (doctoral students) who are widely trained and have an extensive network.

  • The initiation of new collaborations on hydrogen challenges and exchange of knowledge within all Walloon research institutions to respond to European challenges.

Research themes

TiNTHyN is directly involved in the development of the decarbonized hydrogen sector in Wallonia. Its research program thus covers the entire value chain of the sector:

  • hydrogen production: by low temperature electrolysis, high temperature or by plasmalysis

  • the transport and storage of hydrogen over short (local production) or long distances (transport of green hydrogen produced outside Wallonia), including the development of new metallic, polymeric materials and associated coatings, as well as solid storage (MoF);

  • uses of decarbonized hydrogen for mobility, industry and stationary (fuel cell technologies, combustion, use of tanks for mobility).

A word about the acronym

So-called "Moonshot" initiatives are often used to highlight the ambitious and innovative nature of a research programme. This is the case in Flanders for example, where several MOT (Moonshot Research Trajectory) initiatives have been launched in recent years around specific themes similar to the Strategic Innovation Initiatives (IIS) in the Walloon Region. One striking fact is that, long before NASA announced its ambition to put a man on the moon (President JF Kennedy's speech "We choose to go to the Moon" in September 1962), a French-speaking Belgian artist (Georges Prosper Remi or Hergé) had already had this same idea (in 1954!), and translated it into one of his first landmark Tintin albums "Objectif lune". So it's often up to creative minds (artists and scientists alike) to come up with the seeds of ideas long before politicians decide to invest massively in a major research programme. This is also the spirit of this project...

It should also be noted that in the Tintin album quoted above, Hergé imagined a nuclear engine. History has taught us, however, that hydrogen was and is used as the fuel for the rockets that enabled us to discover space. Secondly, the Tintin comics are best known for their adventures involving a very diverse family of characters, with highly complementary contributions and skills, rather like the current consortium. Finally, there is no denying the central role of Louvain-la-Neuve as coordinator, a modern city that is home to the Hergé Museum.

Partners

In practice, TiNTHyN will take the form of 12 doctoral theses, all carried out jointly by 2 Walloon universities in collaboration with one or more research centres. The aim of this interconnection is to enable the creation of a Walloon network of high-level scientific expertise available to the industrial sector.

Academics

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Research centers

Win4Excellence program - Agreement 2310142

With the support of

Walloon Region
Walloon Region
logoWallonieRelance

Thanks

This research is part of the Win4Excellence project, which is supported by the SPW Economie Emploi Recherche of the Walloon Region and the Plan de Relance de la Région Wallonne, under agreement no. 2310142.

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