The philosophy and strategy behind the formation of the HYDROSOL-beyond Consortium was to address the challenges and the practical needs of the concentrated solar thermochemical technologies for the production of renewable hydrogen via the integration of a broad spectrum of key players in solar hydrogen production: from the “Knowledge-Producers” to the “Knowledge End-users” in a multidisciplinary partnership able to provide technological excellence, infrastructures and long-term integration of research activities. At the same time, the intention was to maintain a compact and coherent partnership in order to eliminate work overlapping and ensure efficient cooperation and rapid flow of information and results among involved organizations.

HYDROSOL-beyond involves 8 organizations from 6 EU countries. The “Technology-led” innovation edge in the Project will emerge from the high level commitment of four specialized research centers (APTL, DLR, CIEMAT and CEA) and one university (SUPSI) as “technology-providers” that possess state-of-the-art knowledge and experimental infrastructure, provide a sound scientific knowledge base and combine their national expertise into a European force. The “Market-led” innovation edge is provided by one key player of the energy industry as end-user (ABENGOA) and two innovative SMEs highly specialized in the development of Hydrogen-technology units (HYGEAR) and ceramic materials for energy and hydrogen production applications (ENGICER), to ensure industrial relevance and impact of the research effort with a clear market orientation and secured exploitation of the results.