DESIREE strengthens connections at European Hydrogen Week 2026
The DESIREE project took part in European Hydrogen Week 2026, held in Brussels from 26 to 28 October, where it presented its approach to advancing Solid Oxide Electrolyser (SOEL) technologies for renewable hydrogen production. The event also brought together several consortium members and provided opportunities to connect with other European hydrogen initiatives.
Under the theme “Scaling hydrogen, strengthening resilience”, European Hydrogen Week 2026 attracted around 7,500 participants for three days of conferences, exhibitions and networking activities. The event brought together industry representatives, researchers and policymakers, with discussions focusing on hydrogen’s role in strengthening Europe’s energy security and the challenges of scaling up its production and deployment. The High-Level Policy Conference addressed key challenges facing the sector, including regulatory certainty, market development and the need to stimulate demand for clean hydrogen.
A meeting point for DESIREE partners and hydrogen stakeholders
The stand hosted by consortium partner Zabala Innovation provided a space to introduce DESIREE to professionals attending European Hydrogen Week. The project’s poster was displayed throughout the exhibition, while conversations with visitors and the distribution of its flyer helped raise awareness of its objectives and technological approach.
The stand also served as a meeting point for several consortium partners. Among the DESIREE team members attending the event were project coordinator Iñigo Garbayo and Xabier Sevillano from CENER, Pierre-François Rio from Genvia, Kylia Marcus and David Colomar from EIFHYTEC, Federico Smeacetto from Politecnico di Torino and Mariano Echávarri from Zabala Innovation.
The encounters also included other representatives of consortium organisations, such as Julie Mougin, Deputy Director for Hydrogen Technologies, and Armelle Domas, Research Funding Manager, both from CEA, as well as Concepción Fernández, Matter Programme Officer at CSIC in Brussels. These informal meetings provided an opportunity to discuss DESIREE’s progress and exchange views on developments across the hydrogen sector.
EIFHYTEC and CEA also participated as exhibitors at European Hydrogen Week, with their own stands. EIFHYTEC showcased its hydrogen compression systems, gas panels and engineering solutions, while CEA presented its research projects, technologies and innovations in the hydrogen sector.
European Hydrogen Week also offered opportunities to connect with other research and innovation initiatives, including H2SURFER, a European project in which DESIREE partners Genvia and CEA are also involved. DESIREE representatives met with Federico Zenith, from SINTEF and coordinator of H2SURFER, to discuss their respective activities and the possibility of exploring future synergies between the two initiatives.
Overall, DESIREE’s participation in European Hydrogen Week helped strengthen its visibility within the hydrogen sector and reinforced the value of direct exchanges between researchers, technology developers and other stakeholders working towards the wider deployment of renewable hydrogen technologies.
