By bringing together leading French industrial companies and top academic institutions, the research memorandum of understanding aims to accelerate innovation in hydrogen for all applications, including low-carbon projects for gas-fired power generation and industrial applications.

This memorandum establishes a framework for hydrogen (H2) research with dedicated resources in France to design and carry out a joint program that promotes collaboration and innovation in support of the energy transition.

BELFORT, France – September 30, 2021 – General Electric, GRT Gaz, INERIS, McPhy, and the network of French technology universities (UTBM, UTC, and UTT) announced today the signing of a memorandum of understanding establishing a framework for research on hydrogen for electricity generation.

This collaboration aims to advance research and development in the areas of hydrogen production, transportation, storage, distribution, and safety for all applications, including electricity generation. It will establish a research hub based in France that will focus specifically on evaluating the practical application of hydrogen as a fuel for gas turbine power generation. In addition to integrating the necessary systems, this work will also address the modeling of their operation, the development of specific accessories and components, and the safety and certification of the systems.

This collaboration brings together:

• GE Gas Power—a global leader in natural gas power technology, services, and solutions;
• GRTgaz—a European leader in gas transmission and a global expert in gas systems. In France, the company operates more than 32,000 km of underground pipelines to transport gas from suppliers to consumers connected to its network, and invests in innovative solutions to integrate renewable gases and hydrogen into its network;
• Ineris—The National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks—is the leading public expert in the field of technological risks
• McPhy—an industrial group specializing in equipment for the production and distribution of zero-carbon hydrogen (electrolyzers and refueling stations);
• The French universities of technology—UTBM in Belfort-Montbéliard, UTC in Compiègne, and UTT in Troyes—these three institutions are part of the network of universities of technology (UT), united by a shared vision of structure, collaboration, and the promotion of a unique model of education and research. These three institutions are public institutions with a scientific, cultural, and professional focus, whose primary missions are to train engineers and advance technology.

This new hydrogen research framework consists of four components, focused on different aspects of the development and fuel supply for hydrogen-powered gas plants:

• system integration and operational modeling, aimed at developing an integrated model of a combustion turbine and hydrogen storage, blending, and consumption, and at designing cost-effective solutions that meet market needs. This model aims to develop a comprehensive solution centered around a hydrogen-powered gas turbine that will supply electricity on demand and ensure grid stability in the context of carbon emission reduction;
• R&D on accessories and components for hydrogen production, including the development of equipment (valves, hoses, seals, analyzers/detectors, flow meters, etc.), the simplification of purge systems, and gas separation technology. This component therefore focuses on the qualification of all peripheral systems necessary for the operation of a power plant, with the aim of enabling the conversion of existing gas-fired power plants to operate with higher hydrogen content in the fuel;
• the safety and certification of components and systems, to ensure the highest safety standards;
• a test platform equipped with an electrolyzer, to put the developed concepts and solutions into practice and validate them on an industrial scale. This component includes upgrading the hydrogen test bench at the GE Gas Power production site in Belfort, where the advanced 9HA gas turbine is manufactured.

In parallel with this work, the creation of a hydrogen research initiative will enable the participation of students from relevant universities, supported by initial funding and supervision to launch the research program. This collaboration is designed to attract the interest of key European and national innovation stakeholders responsible for the engineering, development, production, and use of H2 systems and their successive stages (feasibility, engineering, installation/assembly, and commissioning of prototypes).

A few statements:

“This new partnership demonstrates GE’s leadership in developing solutions to decarbonize electricity generation for the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, France, Europe, and the world. We are honored to join forces in this important effort with leading public institutions and companies, both at the national and local levels within the Belfort ecosystem. GE has a long history of innovation, and we look forward to leveraging our 80 years of experience in developing gas turbines—and more than 8 million hours of data on hydrogen-based fuel combustion at our facilities—to find concrete solutions that will accelerate the development of hydrogen,” said Martin O’Neill, vice president of strategy at GE Gas Power.

“Research and Development is key to accelerating and ensuring the success of the energy transition. We are proud to join this alliance to share our knowledge and expertise in support of hydrogen development. Through its R&D division, RICE (Research & Innovation Center for Energy), GRTgaz will mobilize its renowned experts and state-of-the-art infrastructure to guide various research efforts, identify innovative and reliable solutions, and support the growth of hydrogen applications,” said Pierre Blouet, Director of RICE – GRTgaz.

“Ensuring the safety of new hydrogen processes and systems is essential for the successful deployment of this sector. Through this research collaboration, Ineris is pleased to share its more than 25 years of expertise in hydrogen to support the industrial innovations of tomorrow, which are necessary for the energy transition,” saidFranz Lahaie, Hydrogen Program Manager at Ineris.

Luc Poyer, Chairman and CEO of McPhy, commented:“As part of this working group, McPhy will contribute—in line with an industry-wide approach—to the sharing and cross-fertilization of knowledge. This initiative marks another milestone for McPhy, which is accelerating the development of technical and industrial expertise at the local level. We are proud to play a part in strengthening a French industry that is at the forefront of hydrogen technologies.”

About GE Gas Power

GE Gas Power is a global leader in natural gas power technology, services, and solutions. Through relentless innovation and ongoing partnerships with our customers, we deliver the more advanced, cleaner, and more efficient energy that people rely on today, and we are building the energy technologies of the future. With the world’s largest installed base of gas turbines and more than 200 million operating hours across GE’s entire installed fleet, we offer advanced technology and a level of experience unmatched in the industry to build, operate, and maintain world-class gas-fired power plants. For more information, visit us atwww.ge.com/power/gasand follow all the latest news from GE Gas Power onTwitterand LinkedIn.

About GRTgaz

GRTgaz is Europe’s second-largest natural gas transporter, with 32,500 km of pipelines and 640 TWh of gas transported. The company has 3,000 employees and generated nearly 2.3 billion euros in revenue in 2020. GRTgaz’s mission is as follows:  “Together, we are making a secure, affordable, and climate-neutral energy future possible.” GRTgaz is an innovative company undergoing significant transformation to adapt its network to new environmental and digital challenges. It is committed to achieving a 100% carbon-neutral French gas mix by 2050. It supports the hydrogen and renewable gas sectors (biomethane and gas derived from solid and liquid waste). GRTgaz carries out public service missions to ensure the secure transmission of gas to its 945 customers (shippers, distributors, industrial users, plants, and biomethane producers). With its subsidiaries Elengy, the European leader in LNG terminal services, and GRTgaz Deutschland, operator of the MEGAL transmission network in Germany, GRTgaz plays a key role in the European gas infrastructure landscape. The company exports its expertise internationally, particularly the services developed by its research center, RICE. Find us on www.grtgaz.com, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About INERIS

Ineris, a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, has spent the past 30 years developing France’s leading expertise in support of public policies for risk prevention. The uniqueness of its expertise stems from its strong applied research capabilities and its practical knowledge, acquired through its work serving industry. As part of the energy transition, INERIS contributes to managing the risks associated with the hydrogen sector. It draws on its testing facilities and its long-standing understanding of hazardous phenomena to ensure the safe and sustainable development of the sector.

About McPhy

As a specialist in hydrogen production and distribution equipment, McPhy is contributing to the global deployment of zero-carbon hydrogen as a solution for the energy transition.

With its comprehensive product line tailored to the industrial, mobility, and energy sectors, McPhy offers its customers turnkey solutions tailored to their specific needs—whether for supplying industrial raw materials, charging fuel-cell electric vehicles, or storing and utilizing surplus electricity from renewable sources.

As a designer, manufacturer, and integrator of hydrogen equipment since 2008, McPhy operates three development, engineering, and production centers in Europe (France, Italy, and Germany). Its international subsidiaries provide extensive commercial coverage for its innovative hydrogen solutions.

McPhy is listed on Euronext Paris (Segment C, ISIN code: FR0011742329, ticker symbol: MCPHY).

About French Universities of Technology (UTBM, UTC, and UTT)

Since 2013, UTBM in Belfort-Montbéliard, UTC in Compiègne, and UTT in Troyes have been grouped together within the network of universities of technology (UT), with the aim of structuring, sharing, and promoting a single, unique model of education and research. These three institutions are public institutions with a scientific, cultural, and professional focus, whose primary missions are to train engineers and advance technology. UTBM, UTC, and UTT are both engineering “grandes écoles” (members of the Conference of Grandes Écoles and the Conference of Directors of French Engineering Schools) that award degrees accredited by the Commission for Engineering Degrees (CTI), and universities (members of the Conference of University Presidents). As such, French universities of technology combine the reputation of engineering grandes écoles with the strengths of universities. Since the founding of UTC in 1972, UTBM in 1985, and UTT in 1994, these three institutions have graduated more than 25,000 engineers. UTBM is a founding member of the Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté and holds an industry-sponsored chair in partnership with GE. UTC is a member of the Sorbonne University Alliance. UTT is a member of the European University of Technology Alliance (EUt+).

h4>Contact presse :

• GE Gas Power: Ema Hazan – 06.64.56.11.74 – ema.hazan@plead.fr
• Ineris: Karine Grimault – 0033.6. 49.33.49.60 – karine.grimault@ineris.fr
• McPhy: Nicolas Merigeau – NewCap Agency – +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 – mcphy@newcap.eu
• UTBM: François Jouffroy – +33 (0) 3 84 58 32 82 / 81 – francois.jouffroy@utbm.fr