NANOGAP is proud to be part of INTEGRA2H2, a groundbreaking project that is making headlines for advancing renewable hydrogen production beyond conventional electrolysis. This ambitious project aims to demonstrate that hydrogen can be produced sustainably from biomass, integrated thermally, and validated in real industrial processes, offering a new, more efficient pathway for clean energy.
Industry and other high-energy sectors increasingly rely on hydrogen to decarbonize. Yet, conventional electrolysis alone cannot meet the scale and efficiency needed. INTEGRA2H2 may address this challenge by combining biomass conversion, advanced reactors, and industrial validation to create a hybrid route that reduces energy consumption and produces high-value green hydrogen.
NANOGAP’S ROLE: METAL-MOLECULE CATALYSTS
At NANOGAP, our contribution centers on Metal-Molecule catalysts for green ammonia synthesis, a critical step for efficient hydrogen storage and utilization. These catalysts are composed of clusters of only a few metal atoms, less than one nanometer in size, carefully engineered to exhibit enhanced catalytic properties. Their unique structure could allow reactions to occur under milder temperatures and pressures than traditional Haber-Bosch processes, potentially reducing energy requirements while maintaining high efficiency.
The advantages of our Metal-Molecule technology may include:
- Lower activation barriers for ammonia synthesis
By facilitating chemical reactions more efficiently, our catalysts could help enable the production of ammonia under conditions that are challenging by conventional approaches, improving overall energy efficiency.
- Safer, moderate operational conditions
Operating at lower temperatures and pressures reduces the need for extreme industrial setups, enhancing safety and decreasing operational costs.
- Advancing proof-of-concept from TRL1 to TRL3
Our research could help move technology from the conceptual stage to validated lab-scale prototypes, demonstrating practical feasibility and scalability.
- Enabling scalable and sustainable hydrogen storage
Green ammonia can serve as a vector for hydrogen, allowing storage, transport, and downstream use in industrial applications, while keeping the process environmentally friendly.
- Improved selectivity and stability
The atomic precision of Metal-Molecule catalysts is expected to minimize byproduct formation and help long-term catalyst performance, a crucial factor for industrial adoption.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT AND PROGRESS
After 18 months of work, INTEGRA2H2 has moved far beyond the conceptual phase. The project has already delivered:
- Real data and functional prototypes demonstrating industrial potential.
- Successful cleaning of biomass-derived gases at high temperatures.
- Advanced ceramic burners validated for 100% hydrogen operation.
- Integration modeling of the full process, including gasification, membrane reactors, and electrolysis.
The INTEGRA2H2 project brings together a consortium of complementary partners which has made this progress possible. At NANOGAP, we contribute with our Metal-Molecule technology, which complements the processes developed by our partners. Greene Enterprise leads the initial biomass conversion, producing syngas and characterizing the gas streams to optimize downstream processes. CIEMAT is developing hot-gas cleaning systems with regenerable adsorbents, achieving effective sulfur removal at high temperatures. Kerionics will advance two key technologies: the Oxygen Membrane Reactor (OMR) for H₂/CO production and a 3 kW Solid Oxide Electrolyzer (SOEC) with stable operation, preparing the first demonstration-scale stacks. ITC-AICE is validating hydrogen combustion in ceramic burners across 0–100% H₂, confirming industrial feasibility and safety under real operating conditions.
In parallel, Fundación CIUDEN leads process integration and modeling using the HYSYS platform, that aims to demonstrate how thermal integration reduces energy consumption while maximizing hydrogen yield. They also evaluate CO₂ capture strategies and pathways to convert hydrogen and CO₂ into synthetic fuels—such as methane, methanol, and aviation fuels—closing the loop toward a circular economy and ensuring the project’s solutions are both efficient and sustainable.
Photograph of NANOGAP's laboratory.
COLLABORATION AND FUNDING
INTEGRA2H2 brings together six complementary partners: Greene Enterprise, CIEMAT, Kerionics, ITC-AICE, NANOGAP, and Fundación CIUDEN. The project is funded by Next Generation EU funds, under the “Renewable Hydrogen. Value Chain” call by IDAE, with €3.17 million allocated to support its ambitious objectives.
This consortium illustrates the power of collaboration, combining SMEs, research institutions, and industrial expertise to tackle one of the most challenging aspects of energy transition: scalable, efficient, and renewable hydrogen production.
LOOKING AHEAD
INTEGRA2H2 is already shaping the future of green hydrogen in Spain. With functional prototypes, validated processes, and innovative catalysts, the project aims to demonstrate that renewable hydrogen from biomass is not only feasible but industrially viable. NANOGAP’s Metal-Molecule catalysts are central to this journey, searching for safer, more efficient, and scalable green ammonia and hydrogen production.
By integrating these technologies, INTEGRA2H2 is paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable industrial sector, helping decarbonize energy-intensive processes and supporting global climate goals.
Read more about the project in the published article: INTEGRA2H2: La vía híbrida española que supera la electrólisis convencional