IDOM-Ariema consortium to spearhead European Hydrogen Safety Efforts
The Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (CHJU) has awarded the IDOM-Ariema Consortium a Framework Contract for the setup, organisation, management, and coordination of the European Hydrogen Safety Panel (EHSP), a key initiative aimed at ensuring and promoting the safe adoption of hydrogen technologies across Europe.
The CHJU launched the European Hydrogen Safety Panel in 2017 to support the development and deployment of inherently safer hydrogen systems and infrastructure, contributing to achieving the following vision: “Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies shall be safely developed, safely introduced, and safely used in projects as well as in the wider society.” With the new hydrogen goals set by the European Union since 2020, the EHSP has become a critical platform in providing expert guidance and promoting a hydrogen safety culture within the EU.
Building on a Legacy of Safety Excellence
The mission of the EHSP is twofold:
- To assist the CHJU at both the project and programme levels in enssuring that hydrogen safety is adequately addressed and managed.
- To promote and disseminate a high-level hydrogen safety culture within the CHJU programme and beyond.
Historically, the EHSP has consisted of a multidisciplinary pool of experts, organized into specialized ad-hoc working groups according to the tasks to be performed and their expertise. The EHSP provides the CHJU with unique, practical, and direct access to state-of-the-art expert judgment for all issues regarding hydrogen safety. It improves the transfer of safety knowledge across project boundaries and establishes consistent communication about safety performance.
Scope of the Framework Contract
Under this new contract, the IDOM-Ariema Consortium will deliver a comprehensive range of services that will build on this foundation to further enhance the EHSP impact.
Key activities include:
- Continue the support at a program and project level, ensuring EU-Funded projects incorporate state-of-the-art hydrogen safety practices and identifying gaps.
- Expanding the Hydrogen Incident and Accident Database (HIAD 3.0)
- Developing training materials and coordinating workshops to improve safety competences across stakeholders
- Improving public outreach through the creation of a dedicated website that will act as a hub for hydrogen safety knowledge, featuring interactive tools, FAQs, and resources for diverse audiences.
