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In Portugal, on March 13th, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action announced the launch of the second phase of the “Support for the Production of Hydrogen and Other Renewable Gases” program, with a budget of €83 million.

Financed through the Environmental Fund, which acts as an intermediate beneficiary of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), the call for applications is now open for producers of gases from renewable sources (primarily hydrogen and biomethane), exhausting the total budget allocated for this type of investment.

In the first phase of this program, 40 applications were received, of which 25 projects were supported, with contracts already in execution, totaling €102 million. In the second phase of support, the application period runs until July 31st, 2023.

The aim of this call for applications is to support the production of renewable hydrogen and biomethane, with projects that increase the use of biological waste for the production of renewable gases being given higher scores in the final evaluation.

The European Commission also announced that it is preparing the first pilot auctions dedicated entirely to the production of renewable hydrogen. These will be the first financial instruments of the newly announced Hydrogen Bank.

With a budget of €800 million, the European hydrogen auctions will be launched in the autumn of 2023 under the Innovation Fund. In practice, the hydrogen producers who win this tender procedure will receive a subsidy in the form of a fixed premium per kg of hydrogen produced, for a maximum of 10 years of operation.

In Portugal, the government wants to create a centralized system for the purchase and sale of biomethane and green hydrogen, to be determined by the government by June 30th. With the approval of the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE), the aim is to create a mechanism to support the production of renewable gases or low-carbon gases, with a view to achieving cost parity between biomethane, hydrogen, and natural gas.

To read more about it see the link with all the informations about the announcement: Link Here

Recently, our team had an incredible opportunity to visit Spain’s National Hydrogen Center in Puertollano, Spain. This visit allowed us to share our latest developments in the HRS (hydrogen refueling station) project and exchange valuable insights and expertise with some of the leading minds in the field.

The CNH2 is a true center of excellence in the Iberian Peninsula, dedicated to promoting the development and implementation of hydrogen technologies in a wide range of industries.

During our visit, our teams from Hellonext, Petrotec, and Petroassist had the privilege to meet with some of the key figures at the center. This included Beatriz Nieto Calderón, Head of the Applied Engineering Unit, Carlos Merino, Technical Director, and Miguel Ángel Fernández Sánchez, General Manager at CNH2.

Throughout our meeting, we were able to discuss the latest trends and innovations in the field of hydrogen technology, as well as explore potential areas for collaboration and partnership. We were particularly impressed by the center’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, as well as their dedication to providing practical solutions to real-world challenges.

Overall, our visit to Spain’s National Hydrogen Center was an incredible experience that provided us with valuable insights and expertise that will help us to further our work in the HRS project. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone at the center for their warm welcome and for sharing their knowledge and expertise with us.

As we continue to explore the exciting world of hydrogen technology, we look forward to building on this experience and working together to create a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.

Hydrogen is a gas with some peculiar characteristics: it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, so it is very difficult for humans to detect it without the help of gas detectors. Its density in relation to air is approximately 0.08989 kg.m-3, therefore its molecule is the smallest, the fastest, and the one with the lower viscosity.

Hydrogen leaks happen very easily. There are leaks that are only detected with hydrogen and not with other gases, such as nitrogen. When a leak occurs, the escaped gas is concentrated in the highest points of the installation, and this concentration is not uniform. Therefore, the installation must be designed to promote natural ventilation while also ensuring the existence of forced ventilation (exhaust system).

Hydrogen flammability limits are between 4% and 74.5%, meaning that the gas can ignite within this range. The ignition energy of hydrogen is 10 times lower than any other hydrocarbon. For this reason, leakages need to be totally avoided in the installation with the correct sealing of each component and the entire infrastructure.

All the purges must be channelled to the outside, there is the need to evaluate and prevent flammable mixtures with air and to control the atmosphere locally and within the hydrogen range of action. Local ventilation, security signs, and the exclusion of fire sources, including the safety information prohibiting smoking in the area, are extremely important. Note that when in flame, hydrogen is also difficult to visualize since the flame is not visible to the naked eye, and it does not pollute the air when burning.

An important note regarding hydrogen compatibility with other materials, particularly ferrous alloys, and titanium: hydrogen weakens this type of material, so they should not be used together.

For safety reasons, the entire installation (equipment, piping, storage, etc.) must be connected to a grounding system and monitored to confirm the installation’s water tightness. Whenever there is a need for an intervention, the installation must be inert with gaseous nitrogen (or another neutral gas such as helium or argon).

All the material and equipment used in the installation must be compatible with hydrogen, due to the embrittlement phenomena of low-carbon structural steel.

For Hellonext, safety is extremely important, and keeping people secure is our main priority. We understand that with the contribution of all the people involved, all accidents may and must be avoided. More than believing that all accidents can be prevented, we understand that developing a safety and security culture in all our projects is an essential condition for operating not only hydrogen but also electric charging.

To know more about Green Hydrogen, you can contact us here. We will be happy to answer your questions and know more about your business challenges.

Focused on developing and distributing green and smart mobility solutions, Hellonext presents a complete portfolio of electric chargers (AC and DC), including the required services, from project planning and consulting to installation, maintenance, and technical support of all the EV charging infrastructure.

With a wide range of chargers, it provides all the tools required to build a smart, sustainable, and accessible ecosystem.

Hellonext also ensures the software solutions to centrally manage the EV charging stations, enabling advanced features such as user and fleet management, detailed analytic reports, integration of payment systems and roaming,

“The partnership with SBFC consolidates Hellonext’s strategy, to provide solutions for both public and private customers, allowing the progressive reduction of CO2 emissions and moving towards a carbon neutrality future.”, says Hugo Rigor, Executive Director of Hellonext. “We are focused on changing the energetic paradigm, providing sustainable solutions for both ​​electric charging and green hydrogen. The partnership with SBFC will allow us to present innovative solutions that combine ultra-efficient local energy generation with charging power control while being promptly scalable. SBFC’s experience will be an excellent complement to Hellonext know-how.”

Being part of the Petrotec Group grants Hellonext 40 years of experience in the development of innovative solutions for the mobility and energy sectors. With a direct presence in the UK, France, Romania, and Spain, and a vast network of distributors and partners worldwide, Hellonext ensures international resources and the expertise to support its customers.

SBFC Solutions benefits from the experience and knowledge of the German company SBFC Hi Tech in the energy sector, to which it adds creativity and high-quality standards in the development of the best solutions to benefit from solar energy.  The company focus on the development of solutions for the construction and architecture sector, but also for the residential supply and electric mobility.

SBFC surprised the market with a 100% renewable solution that guarantees electric charging based exclusively on solar energy, ensuring that the average mobility in the EU can be ensured without high energy costs.

“SBFC has been focused on creating innovative energy solutions with the aim of having a positive impact on people’s lives”, highlights Bruno Duarte Moreira, Executive Director of SBFC. “With our solar and energy storage solutions we contribute to a sustainable future, ensuring high standards of quality, as well as environmental and social responsibility”.

It is within these goals that the partnership with Hellonext has been established. “It is a perfect fit for our electric mobility strategy, anticipating the technical difficulties of the existing energy infrastructure. Partnering with a world leader in electric charging technology, we will meet the current needs while anticipating the emerging demands resulting from the exponential increase in electric vehicles”.

Hellonext has recently provided ultra-fast 180kW DC EV chargers for the Lisbon Airport facilities, in a partnership between Galp and ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal.

Hellonext team has been enrolled in the installation and commissioning of the project, delivering efficient and flexible EV chargers that will fit the most demanding needs of a busy location while ensuring a great user experience.

The H2 180 model is a fast and secure charger, ready to operate in the most challenging environments while ensuring maximum efficiency. With innovative capabilities, each H2 180 charger enable 2 simultaneous DC charging plugs and includes a 7-inch LCD screen with a user-friendly interface. The 180kW power ranging will charge 20% to 80% of the vehicle battery in around 15 minutes.

This new Hub at the Lisbon Airport is now considered the largest one in Portugal, counting 10 charging points for simultaneous charging of 10 vehicles.

Hellonext is currently expanding its charging network and will soon be available in more locations across Portugal, Spain, and the UK.

If you intend to install your own EV charger at home, there are a couple of things you need to consider before selecting the best option.

Residential charging is a convenient and affordable way to ensure you always keep your vehicle charged. 80% of EV owners charge their vehicle at home either using their typical level 1 charging or improving the electric facilities to own a level 2 charging equipment, getting faster charger times.

If you think about owning an EV Car but have no idea where to start, just keep in mind that installing your EV charger does not have to be a daunting task.
You can charge your EV with the same electric outlet you already have at your garage or parking space. This type of charging is called level 1 charging and the charging station is normally supplied with the car. Despite being the easier way for you to charge your EV car at home it is not the most suitable. Level 1 charging is extremely slow to charge as it uses only a 120V plug. If you own more than one electric car, you will only be able to charge one vehicle per time.

The typical electric outlet will be suitable for an emergency or if you have plenty of time to charge your vehicle. If you intend to use it daily and you need faster-charging speed you will need to install a level 2 charging station.

Installing a level 2 charging station will require additional resources like a certified technician and an EV charger that can ensure the right level of performance and security. With a level 2 charging station, you will increase your charging speed. The difference from a typical outlet can be from 24 hours to 4/5 hours to achieve 80% of the capacity. You can select the charger according to your real needs (1 or more plugs, integration with app to check your charging rates, card reader to keep track of the usage in case you install it in a condominium, wi-fi access). There is a complete range of solutions that can adapt to your requirements.

With Hellonext AC chargers you will be able to find a suitable solution for your level 2 charging station. With capacities that range from 7kW to 44kW, Hellonext AC chargers are available for wall mount or pedestal, exterior or interior. You will also get the support of certified technicians that will guide you to the complete process turning this into a simple and straightforward process.