H2tALENT, led by Campus Sul - Interuniversity Association, including NOVA University of Lisbon, University of Évora, and the University of Algarve, in partnership with GALP and HYLAB Collaborative Laboratory, and coordinated by the University of Évora, aims to create an innovation ecosystem focused on "green" hydrogen and the Alentejo.
It is the first Green Hydrogen Valley in Portugal, with funding and recognition from the European Union and the Global Network of Green Hydrogen Valleys.
H2tALENT, funded by the European Commission's HORIZON programme, is one of four Green Hydrogen Vouchers approved by the European Commission in 2023. It has a total budget of €13.5 million, of which €9 million is guaranteed by the European Commission, to support the implementation of this pioneering project, which will run for five years.
H2tALENT has mobilised a consortium of 28 partners, including companies, higher education institutions, interface bodies, local authorities, and regional development agencies, from Portugal and five other countries. The project aims to develop, implement, and test sustainable and innovative solutions for the production and use of green hydrogen in the Alentejo region.
H2tALENT's mission is to generate knowledge, leverage innovation, and achieve a positive impact focused on "green" hydrogen in the Alentejo, as part of a work agenda focused on green hydrogen adopted by Campus Sul.
Among the objectives of the project for the next 5 years, the following stand out: the installation of 11 MW in electrolysers, the annual production of more than 500 tons of green hydrogen, and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by about 6 thousand tons per year. In addition, H2tALENT aims to retain and develop green hydrogen-related talent in the Alentejo, thereby boosting the region's economy and contributing to the national and European energy transition.
The approval of H2tALENT by the European Commission recognises the merit of the consortium led by Campus Sul, GALP, and HYLAB, as well as the endogenous capacity of the Alentejo as one of the best locations in Europe for investments in green hydrogen, but also positions it as an important asset in the national and European energy transition strategies.
The award ceremony will take place this Thursday 11th at 4pm in the Auditorium of the Alentejo Science and Technology Park (PACT) in Évora.
The Rector of NOVA stated: "Today is a very special day for NOVA University of Lisbon and for the Campus Sul Association, but above all for the future of the Alentejo, now that the H2tALENT project has been officially launched". João Sàágua also stresses that "as a global and civic university, Universidade NOVA is deeply committed to the sustainable development of our society. Time and again, our university has demonstrated its ability to play a fundamental role in building a better world through knowledge and innovation, which is exactly the kind of commitment our society needs at this time".