FreeHydroCells was delighted to participate in the OHPERA Final Clustering Workshop held on 24 February 2026 in Valencia, Spain – an inspiring gathering of Europe’s leading innovators in solar hydrogen, sustainable chemical technologies, and next‑generation materials.
Our Project Coordinator, Dr. Ailbe Ó Manacháin, had the opportunity to present our progress and engage with an exceptional community of researchers, industry partners, and EU‑funded projects driving the future of clean energy. It was a privilege to share how FreeHydroCells’ high‑risk/high‑reward research is contributing to the development of leaf‑inspired PEC systems that can enable clean, decentralised hydrogen for communities.
This year’s theme, “From Novel Materials to Solar Hydrogen Futures,” set the stage for rich discussions on scaling breakthrough materials, advancing photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems, and accelerating Europe’s green hydrogen transition.
Key Reflections and Takeaways from the Workshop
The workshop brought together a diverse and highly engaged group of stakeholders – spanning research institutions, EU agencies, and major hydrogen players. Our conversations and exchanges reinforced several important themes shaping the sector:
Momentum for PEC and solardriven hydrogen is accelerating
Across multiple presentations and discussions, it was clear that the EU community sees PEC technologies as a promising pathway for sustainable, local hydrogen generation. The alignment between material innovation, systems integration, and scalability is stronger than ever.
Collaboration across EUfunded projects is essential for impact
Engaging with organisations such as the European Innovation Council, LOMARTOV SL, German Aerospace Center (DLR) – Institute of Future Fuels, Hydrogen Europe Research, and Universitat Jaume I highlighted how shared challenges – cost, efficiency, durability – can only be tackled through joinedup efforts. Crossproject coordination remains a powerful driver for progress.
Materials, cost reduction, and sustainability remain central priorities
The workshop reinforced that transformative advances will depend on deep materials innovation, scalable production methods, and ensuring sustainability is embedded from the start. These priorities align strongly with the FreeHydroCells vision and validated our focus on nextgeneration photoelectrodes and catalysts.
Industry–research alignment is strengthening the hydrogen value chain
Conversations with industry representatives, including Enagás, Fundación Hidrógeno Aragón, and hysun, demonstrated growing alignment between technological research and market needs. As hydrogen projects move closer to deployment, early collaboration across the value chain is increasing in significance – and impact.
Learning from Europe’s Leading Innovators
We were equally inspired by the other EUfunded projects shaping the future of solar fuels and echemicals, including:
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- FlowPhotoChem.eu – advancing sunlight‑driven CO₂‑to‑chemicals technologies.
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- Matteco – pioneering next‑generation catalysts and electrodes for green hydrogen systems.
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- eChemicles – scaling electrochemical CO₂‑to‑e‑chemicals technologies using renewable energy.
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- HIVE Hydrogen – developing one of the largest green ammonia/hydrogen hubs globally.
The opportunity to exchange ideas, compare methodologies, and explore synergy areas was invaluable. The workshop served as a strong reminder that Europe’s climate goals are best achieved when innovation ecosystems work together.
You can find the slides Ailbe presented here.
Looking Ahead
Our participation in the OHPERA Clustering Workshop has strengthened our commitment to advancing clean, scalable, and community‑centred hydrogen solutions. The insights gained in Valencia will inform our ongoing research and our future collaborations across Europe’s hydrogen landscape.
Stay connected with us on LinkedIn and X for more updates as FreeHydroCells continues contributing to Europe’s clean energy transition.
Watch our latest video: FreeHydroCells: Powering Communities with Clean, Local Energy
Interested in collaboration? We are actively exploring new funding and consortium opportunities to redefine how communities produce, store, and control their own clean energy. Join us in our mission – email freehydrocells@ucc.ie.