Project Officer - Scientific Research on Safety and Performance of Hydrogen Supply Chain Components at Joint Research Centre
The current vacancy is with the Directorate for Energy, Mobility and Climate, in the Battery and Hydrogen Technologies Unit of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Petten (The Netherlands). The Directorate for Energy, Mobility and Climate provides support to EU policies in the field of sustainable, safe, secure and efficient energy production, distribution and use.
The Battery and Hydrogen Technologies Unit of this Directorate performs scientific research in the fields of battery and hydrogen technologies in support of related European Commission policies.
The Battery and Hydrogen Technologies Unit of this Directorate performs scientific research in the fields of battery and hydrogen technologies in support of related European Commission policies. These technologies are enablers of the transition towards less carbonintensive and hydrogen-inclusive EU energy and transport systems and need to be highly performing, sustainable and safe to effectively drive the decarbonisation of energy and transport systems forward. Unit activities are a mix of knowledge advancement by means of laboratories and knowledge management by data collection and analysis This work serves the development of European research and innovation policies in the energy, industrial and mobility sectors.
Further information: Working at the Commission – conditions and environment (europa.eu) - Science for policy - European Commission
WE PROPOSE
Our Battery and Hydrogen Technologies Unit is looking for a highly motivated colleague for performing scientific research on the renewable and low-carbon hydrogen supply chains, and in particular of the present and future hydrogen transport options. You will be part of a team of scientists and engineers contributing to European research and technology progress in this field. We are looking specifically to horizontal aspects of the supply chains, such as safety and standardisation. The team is engaged with the European Clean Hydrogen
Partnership; the mentioned activities are covered by a multi-annual framework contract enabling also the interaction with the related European industry.
Your work will consist in two main work streams: you will become the JRC expert of hydrogen transport infrastructure, under the supervision of an experienced project leader.
Together, you will identify the technological bottlenecks still existing and contribute to fill the knowledge gaps necessary in transport and distribution, to facilitate market penetration of non-fossil hydrogen. The work involves the production, collection and assessment of data pertaining to the future European hydrogen transport infrastructure. You will primarily conduct experiments at the High Pressure Gas Testing Facility (GASTEF). This facility is one of the few research facilities in Europe able to perform experiments with compressed hydrogen on full scale components. In GASTEF, you will study the feasibility of transport of hydrogen in pipelines, assessing pipeline lifetime and the effect of hydrogen driven degradation and ageing.
Building on this, you will also look at public safety aspects, not only of transport but of the whole supply chain.
Practically, your work will consist of the following elements:
• To assess, and update as necessary, relevant indicators able to describe a hydrogen transport infrastructure and to monitor the progress towards the achievement of the objectives, serving the multi-annual and annual progress review of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership.
• To contribute to hydrogen safety knowledge and safety awareness by identifying and tackling gaps in safety of hydrogen infrastructure, by joining forces with the European Hydrogen Safety Panel of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and extracting lesson learnt from the Hydrogen Incidents and Accidents Database (HIAD).
• To design, supervise and perform data analysis of the experimental campaigns at the High Pressure Gas Testing Facility (GASTEF) to assess the safety and performance of hydrogen pipelines.
• To disseminate scientific results by publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals and technical reports, to attend key scientific conferences, and to present experimental results and findings.
• To be actively involved in international scientific networks and standardisation committees in hydrogen technologies.
WE LOOK FOR
The JRC Battery and Hydrogen Technologies Unit is looking for a scientist with the following profile:
Required skills/Experience:
• Completed university degree of at least three years duration in physics, chemistry, material science, mechanical engineering, technology or a similar field.
• At least three years of professional experience or a PhD degree in the relevant field.
• Hands-on experience in a laboratory setting.
• Experience in the design, preparation, execution and data interpretation of experimental campaigns.
• A basic knowledge in hydrogen technologies and/or natural gas technologies and the related safety dimension.
• Good oral and written English (at least at level B2).
• Willingness to work in an international and multi-cultural team.
• Good communication skills
Desirable additional skills/experience:
• Knowledge of fracture mechanics.
• Experience on hydrogen material compatibility and/or components lifetime performance assessment.
• Knowledge of hydrogen safety and/or risk assessment.
• Understanding of gas transport infrastructure and/or natural gas transmission grid design, operation and life management.
For more information and to apply visit https://recruitment.jrc.ec.europa.eu/vacancy/2022
