GRTgaz and Mines Paris - PSL launch a joint research laboratory on hydrogen: Défi H

On the occasion of Mines Paris Research Day 2022, GRTgaz, the main gas transmission operator committed to the energy transition, and Mines Paris - PSLa leading French engineering school, have signed a five-year partnership for research in the field of hydrogen, resulting in the creation of a joint laboratory, Défi H. Intended to study the effects of hydrogen on structural materials, Défi H will generate new thesis work and develop new technological tools through close collaboration between the teams.A partnership resolutely focused on the energy transition, consolidating France's ambitions in the field of hydrogenThrough its RICE Research and Development center, GRTgaz has maintained a close relationship with Mines Paris - PSL for several years, through Chairs, theses and projects involving doctoral students, post-doctoral students, specialized masters and interns. Recently, and after several studies on the impacts of hydrogen on steels, GRTgaz and MINES Paris - PSL have embarked on more ambitious projects: the Gas Economy Chair, the Prothycol project (Protection of pipes using Coldspray technology, winner of the 2018 Open Innovation award), the Precos project (Repair of pipes using Coldspray). An industrial ANR chair MESSIAH (Mini-Tests for the In-Service Monitoring of Structures with Application to Hydrogen Transport) has even been created.

The major role that hydrogen will play in the decarbonization of industry and transportation is being confirmed day by day. A network adapted to hydrogen by converting existing structures costs two to three times less than a new network. By enabling the interconnection between consumption and production points and access to underground storage, this dedicated network will effectively support the development of a hydrogen market in France.

With Défi H, GRTgaz and Mines Paris - PSL wish to strengthen the synergies of research and training activities related to the protection and aging of hydrogen transport networks.

The main objective of this partnership is to develop work and common actions around several axes:

GRTgaz and Mines Paris - PSL will be able to pool their research and collaborate on several test beds that make up Défi H, The RICE Fenhyx platform will also be made available for the needs of Mines Paris - PSL researchers who will be able to generate new academic knowledge. Fenhyx is a unique experimental platform for determining the effects of hydrogen, alone or in a mixture, on metallic specimens, and under pressure.

"Research has always played a key role in GRTgaz's business plan. This kind of collaboration allows us to develop knowledge sharing between the academic and industrial worlds, and to bring researchers closer to the economic challenges of the years to come, namely the development of hydrogen and its transportation by pipeline. Hydrogen is the energy of the future and it is logical that GRTgaz should surround itself with high-level researchers in order to prepare together for the energy transition of tomorrow."
Anne-Sophie Decaux, Technical Director - Head of Industrial Performance and New Technologies at GRTgaz.

"I am very pleased with this new agreement - which further strengthens the ties between Mines Paris and GRTgaz - and underscores our commitment to the benefit of industry, business and society - in the search for solutions for the energy transition and collective progress towards a carbon neutral world."
Vincent Laflèche, General Manager of Mines Paris - PSL

GRTgaz's RDI 2021 activity report is online

Climate issues, low-carbon objectives, reduction of methane emissions, the gas industry has entered the third gas revolution and is redesigning its model on a European and global scale.

For several years, RICE (Research & Innovation Center for Energy) has been accompanying this transformation and accelerating the integration of renewable gases and hydrogen into the energy mix.The 5 RD&I programs of RICE in detailsIn order to respond more effectively to the fundamental challenges of the gas chain, and of transmission in particular, GRTgaz's RD&I has been restructured in 2021 into five refocused and more readable programs.

In this report, you will find a detailed presentation by each program coordinator of the context of the achievements in 2021 and the prospects for 2030 for :

These programs are supported by exceptional testing facilities, which have been strengthened in 2021 by the inauguration of the FenHYx H2 testing platform (traction, permeation, ageing), which will complement GRTgaz's Jupiter1000 demonstrator (electrolysis and soon methanation).

Read the R&D 2021 report online

RICE hosts the first promotion of startups of the Nova by GRTgaz incubator

Within the framework of its first call for applications, a jury made up of representatives of various GRTgaz businesses has selected four start-ups and young companies which will be able to benefit from a one-year support program in the new Nova incubator. The incubation started on November 7, 2022 with the reception of these start-ups on the RICE site in Villeneuve la Garenne (92).

4 laureates with complementary and varied profiles and expertise have been selected for this first promotion:

LYNX for the "industry 4.0 and digitalization" field

The young company is working on the design and manufacture of mixed reality glasses that aim to enrich and augment the real environment of a technician with a realistic 3D model of an infrastructure. "NOVA gives us the chance to work on problems in the field, in collaboration with friendly technical operators and R&D engineers. It's also a unique opportunity to access facilities and equipment reserved/exclusive to GRTgaz's research center." Chouki Hadri, VP General Manager Lynx

LIUM for the "industrial, energy and ecological transition" field

It proposes a solution of balloons held on the ground by a cable for the surveillance of industrial sites. These balloons equipped with cameras are designed to help manufacturers better control safety, environmental risks and the risks associated with certain interventions.

"Learning that we would be joining the very first Nova class was very exciting news. Collaborating with GRTgaz will allow us to accelerate the technological and commercial development of Lium in order to accomplish our mission. Guilain Yvon, Co-founder and CEO of Lium

SOLAR FOCUS for the field "new gases and start-ups

It wishes to develop energy production without exploiting rare or fragile resources, such as the production of gas from waste by pyrolysis under solar radiation.

"Very happy to join the first promotion of the Nova incubator, with all that it represents in opportunities and possibilities for the development of Solar Focus. Eager to start the next phase of the project!" Thomas Delapierre, Solar Focus project leader

YLSSEN for the "operational performance and industrial safety" field

The electronic system developed by YLSSEN allows to know remotely and in real time, the open or closed state of industrial valves. It can be put into operation without having to modify existing equipment and without having to interrupt production or distribution operations on the industrial site.

"The YLSSEN team is aware of this opportunity and thanks GRTgaz and its NOVA team for having chosen it to be part of this first class. We are looking forward to the mutual progress that our joint work will allow. Stéphane Canet, CEO Ylssen

 

The selected start-ups now have shared workspaces in GRTgaz premises. They will also benefit from the support of its Research and Innovation Center for Energy (RICE), with access to test areas and the support of researchers to carry out internal experiments. The Nova incubator will also offer start-ups technical, methodological and entrepreneurial support, via its own innovation acceleration system (market studies, economic studies, intellectual property, business models, etc.)

The representatives of the four startups expressed their enthusiasm during the welcome day on November 7, when they were welcomed to the Villeneuve la Garenne site by Pierre Blouet, director of RICE, in the presence of Vanessa Paoli-Gagin, senator for the Aube region and rapporteur for the information mission "Excellence in research/innovation, shortage of industrial champions: look for the French mistake".

Back in pictures on this first event filmed by Maddyness :

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAoXtfu9yb8[/embedyt]

The selected start-ups will have access to shared workspaces in GRTgaz's premises from November 7. They will also benefit from the support of its Research and Innovation Center for Energy (RICE), with access to test areas and the support of researchers to carry out internal experiments. The Nova incubator will also offer start-ups technical, methodological and entrepreneurial support, via its own innovation acceleration system (market studies, economic studies, intellectual property, business models, etc.)

At the end of the jury he chaired, Pierre Blouet, Director of RICE, GRTgaz's research and development center, said: "Now that the winners have been announced, I'm eager to see what happens next, with, in the short term, the start of incubation of these four start-ups in fields that are both complementary and varied, and the opening of cross-exchanges between GRTgaz experts and these innovative entrepreneurs.

GRTgaz's RDI 2020 report is online

In the course of its activities, GRTgaz makes a significant effort on Research and Development and Innovation.
These activities, which are largely collaborative with other gas players on a national and international scale, aim to improve operational performance and prepare for the technical transformations required in the context of the energy transition.

The main advances and orientations for the years to come are detailed in a 54-page activity report, which we are putting online today.

RICE research in detail|You will find a presentation of the 12 RICE research programmes linked to GRTgaz's activities, divided into the three areas of Industrial Safety, Energy Transition and Operational Performance. Each of the programme coordinators recalls the issues at stake, the subjects dealt with during the year, and the outlook for 2030. Focus is also given to emblematic projects such as : Read the RDI 2020 report online (in french)|||||||

Hydrogen Days: the impact of NG/H2 mixtures in industry

The Hydrogen Days in the territories 2021 organized by France Hydrogen, the Urban Community of Dunkerque Grand Littoral and the Hauts-de-France Region bring together the various hydrogen actors to meet and exchange around the deployment of H2 in France. They took place in September and RICE took part in them: a look back at the intervention of Lorella Palluotto.

GRTgaz and RICEwere present during these days, Lorella Palluotto, R&D engineer at RICE spoke in particular on the theme: "Hydrogen and natural gas mixtures in industry: what impacts?
"For several years, hydrogen, pure or mixed with natural gas, has been at the heart of RICE's activities. The study of hydrogen/natural gas mixtures has become essential, with a growing number of projects to inject hydrogen and synthetic methane into the gas network. In this presentation, I will review the work of RICE and GRTgaz on the impacts of these mixtures on industrial applications. RICE's involvement in numerous projects in France, Europe and throughout the world has given us the first results of the acceptability of these mixtures by industrial customers. A step towards the integration of new gases into our transmission system. " - Lorella Palluotto
You can find Lorella Palluotto's presentation on GN/H2 mixtures : available for download here