Member News | University of Twente Secures EU Funding to Advance Green Hydrogen Technology
ESEIA member the University of Twente (UT), based in Enschede, the Netherlands, has received an ERC Proof of Concept Grant to advance a breakthrough technology for green hydrogen production, a significant step towards making clean hydrogen more affordable and commercially viable.
Researcher Chris Baeumer secured the grant to develop the HEA-H₂ project, which builds on a recent patent application and aims to create durable, high-performance electrolyser electrodes made from abundant elements. The technology is based on the discovery of a new material class, high-entropy oxides which show promising efficiency for water splitting.
Using thin-film technology at the University of Twente, the team will now take their previous discovery to the next level. By improving the efficiency and lifetime of water electrolysers, the technology could help reduce the cost of green hydrogen and accelerate its use in sectors such as steel production, chemicals, fertilisers, and sustainable transport.
The ERC Proof of Concept Grant scheme, part of the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, helps researchers bridge the gap between pioneering research and the early phases of commercialisation. Each grant is worth €150,000, and the first round of 2026 distributed €27.3 million to 182 researchers across Europe.
This recognition reinforces the University of Twente’s strong track record in sustainable energy research and its contribution to Europe’s clean energy transition values it shares with the ESEIA network and its mission to advance innovation across the renewable energy sector.
