The Hyp3D project, coordinated by Albert Tarancón and Gianfranco Sabato from the Nanoionics and Fuel Cells Department at IREC, has been awarded the Best Innovation Award 2025. The award promoted by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership recognizes groundbreaking projects and technologies in the hydrogen sector that demonstrate tangible impact, drive technological advancement, and accelerate Europe’s transition to a decarbonized economy.  

The project was selected over 100 projects and received 60% of the total votes cast.

The Clean Hydrogen Partnership Awards were held on the 24^th of November in Brussels during the Hydrogen Research and Innovation Days, organized by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, which showcase the results of funded projects across the hydrogen value chain from production, distribution and storage to end-use applications. The awards celebrate excellence in hydrogen research and innovation, honouring the people and projects that drive Europe’s clean energy transition in five different categories: Best Success Story and Best Innovation (both selected by public vote), Best Outreach, European Hydrogen Valley, and Woman in Hydrogen Innovation. The Best Innovation Award was presented by Beatrice Coda, Head of Unit Clean energy transitions at European Commission and  Directorate General for Research and Innovation.

HyP3D, that stands for “Hydrogen Production in Pressurized 3D-Printed Solid Oxide Electrolysis Stacks”, pioneers the use of 3D Printing to create solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOCs) with corrugated yttria-stabilised zirconia electrolytes that boost that active area by up to 60% and enhance resistance to pressure imbalances. Featuring embedded gas channels, inlets, outlets, and sealing features, Hyp3D’s innovative cells enable simpler, lighter stack designs using flat metallic interconnects.

The project is product-driven and involves industrial partners with proved experience in mass manufacturing of ceramics by 3D printing, glass-to metal sealing and assembly of electrolysers, competently covering the entire value-chain. The consortium is formed by 8 European partners including IREC, DTU, Politecnico Di Torino, BSC-CNS, SAS 3DCERAM SINTO, VAC TRON SA, H2B2 Electrolysis Technologies SL, and SNAM SPA.

More information about the project can be found here.

Congratulations to Gianfranco, Albert and the HyP3D team!

Acknowledgements

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CLEANH2. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.