Development of a test environment for hydrogen technology

The HYTEST research program aims to develop a testing environment that enables the research group to carry out valid and reliable tests, both as part of research assignments and at the request of companies. The ambition is to evolve into a leading and reliable testing facility within the Flemish hydrogen landscape, as outlined in the roadmap of the Hydrogen research group. This is essential, as the industry — particularly SMEs and larger companies without their own R&D departments — is seeking opportunities to have technologies and applications based on hydrogen or other sustainable fuels tested and simulated as alternatives to fossil fuels. The current lack of affordable and accessible testing infrastructure in Flanders represents a major barrier, as test environments are scarce and often very costly.
To make this possible, the existing infrastructure is being optimized for both research and service provision. Through systematic and practice-oriented research, we analyze the current capabilities, identify bottlenecks, and formulate evidence-based improvement strategies. This includes the development and integration of a digital toolbox, which will be tested and validated to enable realtime monitoring, data collection, and interpretation. Additionally, we investigate how the safety, maintenance, and technical performance of the testing infrastructure can be further optimized, with a focus on both scientific 
substantiation and practical applicability.