GUidelinEs for Safe and Sustainable-by-design systems based on reneWable Hydrogen

The transition to a hydrogen-based economy necessitates a paradigm shift in design approaches.

Traditional engineering practices must be augmented with a holistic perspective that considers safety, environmental, social, and economic principles in the whole life cycle of the target system.

The safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) approach, recently recommended at the EU level in a specific framework, is the highest standard to reduce the negative life cycle impacts directly in the design phase.

GUESS-WHy project aims to improve the sustainability and safety of the fuel cell and hydrogen (FCH) systems by promoting the SSbD methodology.GUESS-WHy will develop and publish seven SSbD guidelines of seven different FCH systems, covering different technology readiness level (TRL) along the hydrogen value chain (production, storage and utilization).

Selected systems are (5+2): PEM electrolyzer, SOFC system, Alkaline electrolyzer, metal hydrides storage, H2 gas turbine plus PEM-FC and SOE electrolyzer based on the existing sustainable-by-design guidelines.

The SSbD guidelines provide the impact assessment of the system as well as the recommendations and products concepts for safe and sustainable impact improvements along the whole life cycle.The project will start collecting inputs from previous projects, stakeholders and literature.

The guidelines will be developed following a standard process: product definition, initial impact assessment, idea generation and scenario and benchmark analysis.Dissemination and exploitation will target both the regulatory field and the industrial stakeholders to promote the utilization of the guidelines.GUESS-WHy consortium is composed of universities and research centers, expert in safety and sustainability assessments, and by private companies with expertise in the design and production of FCH systems.

GUESS-WHy is supported by a network of public bodies and industries interested in providing inputs and disseminating project results.