EIFHYTECDriving innovation in EU-funded projects: EIFHYTEC demonstrates its breakthrough hydrogen compression in COSMHYC DEMO and receives hy-fcell Award 2025

EIFHYTEC is a European industrial SME founded in 2019 with production facilities in Haguenau (Northern Alsace, France). The company is dedicated to advancing hydrogen as a key low-carbon energy vector and aims to contribute to the emergence of a robust European hydrogen industry. The company develops innovative, reliable and energy-efficient hydrogen compressors based on a thermochemical metal-hydride process.

Recognition from the hydrogen sector - EIFHYTEC receives Hy-FCell Award 2025

EIFHYTEC’s achievements were recognised with the Hy-FCell Product & Market Award at the leading hydrogen trade fair in Stuttgart in October 2025. The award highlighted the strong market potential of its metal-hydride compression technology, valued for its reduced operating costs, high reliability, and ability to use waste heat, features increasingly sought after by early industrial adopters. The prize is awarded annually to innovative companies and projects in the field of hydrogen and fuel cell technology.

Hy-FCell Product & Market Award for EIFHYTEC’s hydrogen thermochemical compressiors im October 2025, Stuttgart Germany

The technology: Thermochemical hydrogen compression

EIFHYTEC’s compressors use a metal-hydride thermochemical process that eliminates moving parts in compressors. This design ensures high reliability, minimal maintenance, low noise and vibration-free operation. A major advantage is the ability to use waste heat (e.g. from electrolysers or industrial sites), significantly improving the overall efficiency of the hydrogen value chain compared to electrical compression. Modular and scalable, the technology suits refuelling stations, filling centres, pipeline injection and industrial applications.

EIFHYTEC’s hydrogen compressor installed at the COSMHYC DEMO refuelling station, Sorigny, France

In the COSMHYC DEMO project, EIFHYTEC designed, built, installed and commissioned its thermochemical compressor (MHC). The system was developed to supply both the hydrogen refuelling station and an adjacent filling centre. Once constructed, it required less than one month to integrate on site. This demonstrates the benefits of the selected containerised and standardised design requiring no vibration mitigation and reduced civil-engineering work. In its COSMHYC DEMO demonstrated configuration, the ISO 14687:2025 grade-D-ready compressor delivered up to 250 kg H₂/day, from 30 to 450 bar. Over the demonstration period, it achieved 46,000 hours of availability with stable and consistent performance.

Ongoing projects and a growing portfolio

EIFHYTEC’s innovation continues to gain visibility beyond the COSMHYC DEMO project. A thermochemical compressor has already been deployed at an ASTER ENERGIES hydrogen refuelling station in Strasbourg, supporting regional hydrogen mobility initiatives. Today, EIFHYTEC offers a broad portfolio of thermochemical compressors, ranging from small units for e.g. testing facilities to large multi-stage systems delivering over 100 kg/h. The product line includes modular and containerised solutions for easy deployment, as well as integrated systems compatible with electrolysers and hydrogen distribution infrastructures. EIFHYTEC also manufactures gas panels and provides maintenance services for hydrogen installations.

EIFHYTEC is also a partner in the EU project HYGHER (https://hygher.eu/). Building on the COSMHYC project series (cosmhyc.eu), HYGHER aims to accelerate, improve and make the hydrogen fuel supply chain more cost-efficient. Together with partners from industry and research, two hydrogen filling stations are being commissioned in the Paris region with access to two TEN-T corridors. The aim here is to build on the successes of the COSMHYC projects and establish a sustainable, safe and efficient supply chain.

Story of the COSMHYC project series: from prototype to real-world deployment

Across three successive projects, COSMHYC, COSMHYC XL, and finally COSMHYC DEMO, the consortium designed and tested prototypes from 100 kg H₂/day to higher-capacity units. While the first two systems were validated on an R&D site simulating station conditions, COSMHYC DEMO delivers full real-world demonstration. The new compression solution was integrated into the refuelling station in Sorigny, France . The whole system (HRS, compressors and all other components) is CE-certified, and operational tests confirmed high efficiency, flexibility, and significant reductions in maintenance and operating costs. These results strengthen the technological foundation for hydrogen mobility in the region and confirm strong potential for commercial deployment.

A European partnership

The COSMHYC projects were funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, in the scope of the EU Horizon 2020 funding program. They were coordinated by EIFER (European Institute for Energy Research, Karlsruhe). The refuelling station was delivered by Cavendish Hydrogen (formerly NEL Hydrogen). The core innovations were developed by two French SMEs, EIFHYTEC and MAHYTEC. CCTVI (Communauté de communes Touraine Vallée de l’Indre) hosted the demonstration and operated the station. Steinbeis Europa Zentrum supports the consortium with communication, dissemination and exploitation activities.

Communication activities as a driver

Over the years, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum has developed a long-term communication and dissemination strategy for the project partners. The aim was clear: share scientific and technical progress, demonstrate performance, and build a community of early-adopters around the technology.

Read more:

A new hydrogen refuelling station in Sorigny, France - Steinbeis EN

Clean Hydrogen Partnership Awards 2025 - Clean Hydrogen Partnership

COSMHYC - Home

Hygher – High pressure hydrogen value chain