Founded in 1994 by the late Prof. Tapan Bose, the Hydrogen Research Institute (HRI) of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) is one of Canada’s leading institutions in Hydrogen Research.  The institute’s mission is to advance Science, Engineering and Technology for the establishment of a sustainable energy system using hydrogen, particularly in the field of production, storage, safety and applications.  HRI brings together over 100 members, including 16 research professors in fundamental Sciences and Engineering, having at their disposal hydrogen and electrochemical equipment as well as chemical and engineering laboratories.

HRI’s research programmes include fundamental and applied aspects that comprise:

• Materials discovery, through modelling and machine learning - High throughput screening by computational techniques, synthesis of the screened potential candidates, characterisation of their properties, and experimental validation.
• Studying the physico-chemical phenomenon related to the adsorption of gas mixtures as well as (electro)catalysis.
• High throughput screening by computational techniques, synthesis of the screened potential candidates, characterisation of their properties, and experimental validation.
• Development of models to optimise the design of systems based on these materials.
• System engineering, system integration and validation.
• Low-cost, high-performance, durable PEM fuel cells from lignin-based carbon nanofibres.

HRI is particularly interested in the development of advanced materials to address the technical gaps needed for commercially competitive Hydrogen Energy systems, in performing fluid dynamics simulations of hydrogen releases for safety, as well as the safety and lifetime analysis of new materials and Hydrogen Energy systems.  Research is also being conducted on the use of hydrogen-based energy technologies, given the climatic context of northern Canada and its significant resources of renewable electricity and biomass.  The team is also focused on the development and deployment of clean hydrogen technologies in various industrial and transport sectors in Canada.

In 2020, the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) and UQTR joined forces to set up a joint research unit focusing on the development of advanced materials and technologies for a low-carbon economy.  From this collaboration, HRI is also working on high-temperature fuel cells (solid oxide fuel cell - SOFC) and electrolysis (solid oxide electrolyser cell - SOEC) as well as battery technologies.

“My colleagues and I are delighted to be part of EERA FCH JP that brings together the best hydrogen researchers in Europe” - Bruno G. Pollet

Since 2021, HRI has diversified its research and development (R&D) activities to focus on green hydrogen production, particularly on the development of low-cost, highly performing and durable materials for low-temperature water electrolysers such as proton exchange membrane (PEM), alkaline (ALK) and anion exchange membrane (AEM) through the NSERC Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in green hydrogen production ($1.2m) and the INNERGEX Research Chair in renewable hydrogen production ($0.625m).

When it comes to the involvement within the EERA FCJ JP, HRI will focus on electrolyte, catalyst and electrode (Prof. Bruno G. Pollet) and systems (Prof. Sousso Kelouwani) development as well as hydrogen handling and storage (Prof. Jacques Huot).  It is expected that through this network, HRI will greatly benefit from the expertise within it, and equally the European colleagues will have the opportunity to use HRI’s team expertise and experience in the Canadian context.