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GUESS-WHy: New EU project for safe and sustainable by design hydrogen and fuel cells technologies
The transition to a hydrogen-based economy requires a paradigm shift in approach. Traditional technical practices need to be complemented by a holistic perspective that takes into account safety, environmental, social and economic principles over the entire life cycle of the target system (e.g. electrolyzer, fuel cell). The aim of the GUESS-WHy project, in which the Laboratory for Heat and Power is involved, is to improve the sustainability and safety of fuel cell and hydrogen systems by promoting a methodology for safe and sustainable design approaches.
The European Union has recognized hydrogen and hydrogen technologies as strategically important for the much-needed energy transition towards renewable energy sources. For hydrogen technologies to be successfully deployed, they must be sustainable and safe throughout their life cycle. The aim of the three-year EU project GUESS-WHy (GUidelinEs for Safe and Sustainable-by-design systems based on reneWable Hydrogen), launched in 2025, is to define guidelines for the safe and sustainable design of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. The project is funded by the Horizon Europe program as part of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. The total value of the project is € 1,499,976.56, the share of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering amounts to € 183,625.00.
As part of the project, the researchers will work on seven technologies at different stages of technological development: (i) proton exchange membrane fuel cell, (ii) proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, (iii) solid oxide fuel cell, (iv) solid oxide electrolyzer, (v) alkaline electrolyzer, (vi) hydrogen gas turbine and (vii) storage in metal hydrides. The project is a continuation of the successfully completed eGHOST project (project website), in which the Chair of Power Engineering was also involved as a partner.
The Chair of Power Engineering team, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mitja Mori, is responsible for the sustainability assessment of the technologies considered in the project. Each technology is evaluated with the help of life cycle assessments (LCA), life cycle cost analyzes (LCC) and social life cycle assessment methods (Social LCA).
