ESTIA Research and H2GREMM at the Energy Transition Forum

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Recherche

On 27 April 2026, at the initiative of the R3 TESNA network, stakeholders from the research and industrial sectors gathered at the Hôtel de Région in Bordeaux for a day dedicated to energy innovation. The event, ‘Laboratories and Businesses in the Energy Transition’, brought together laboratories, businesses, institutions and regional partners around a common goal: to accelerate cooperation to meet the energy challenges of tomorrow. Among the collaborations highlighted, the participation of ESTIA-Recherche and H2Gremm illustrated the innovative momentum driven by partnerships between academic research and technology companies.

A partnership to promote the integration of hydrogen

During the first session dedicated to collaborations between laboratories and SMEs, ESTIA Recherche and H2Gremm presented an ambitious project: the experimental integration of a hydrogen station into a Building Microgrid-type demonstrator. This initiative aims to explore the role of hydrogen in smart energy systems, particularly for energy storage and optimised management at the level of a building or microgrid.

The project forms part of an applied research approach combining technological innovation, field testing and a scalable energy management strategy (Energy Management System – EMS). It is supported through a CIFRE PhD programme as well as by the European Interreg Sudoe programme, demonstrating the scientific and regional scope of this collaboration.

Hydrogen as a lever for the energy transition

The presentation highlighted the growing interest in hydrogen within decarbonisation strategies. Integrated into a microgrid demonstrator, it enables the testing of scenarios where local production, storage and energy consumption are intelligently managed.

This approach addresses several major challenges: improving energy flexibility, making the most of intermittent renewable energy sources, and strengthening the energy self-sufficiency of infrastructure.

An event fostering collaboration

Organised with the support of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and several innovation clusters and networks, this event fostered exchanges between laboratories and companies regarding collaborative projects, feedback and funding opportunities. The meetings also provided an opportunity to discover the expertise of Nouvelle-Aquitaine’s laboratories in the fields of energy production, storage, energy efficiency and smart grids.

The presence of ESTIA Recherche and H2Gremm is fully in line with this approach: to demonstrate that energy innovation relies as much on scientific research as on the ability of industrial players to experiment with and deploy new solutions.

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