On September 18, 2025, the H2Excellence Best Thesis Awards were presented during the European Fuel Cells Conference (EFCF2025) in Capri, Italy. The ceremony recognized outstanding academic contributions in the field of hydrogen research.
The awards ceremony, organizd by our valued partner, the University of Perugia (UNIPG) and sponsored by the Italian Hydrogen Association (H2IT), honored six exceptional young researchers whose work is helping shape the future of hydrogen technologies in Europe and beyond. The event highlighted the importance of academic research in driving innovation and supporting the energy transition.
The competition attracted 85 thesis submissions from 15 countries including 50 Master’s and 35 PhD theses. The evaluation focused on scientific relevance, clarity of objectives, methodology, presentation of results, and collaboration with industry (for master’s theses only).
Award Winners
Master Thesis Awards:
- Malgorzata Mielczarek – Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland
Study of the electrolysis process of an aqueous salt solution as a method of producing green hydrogen - Angelo Paziente – Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Ammonia-based direct reduction of iron ores: modeling and experimental assessment - Giorgia Pollini – University of Turin, Italy
Thermodynamic modelling and investigation of Ti(Fe,Ni)-H system for hydrogen storage
PhD Thesis Awards:
- Federica Restelli – Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Techno-economic evaluation of options for large-scale hydrogen transport - Giuseppe Sassone – Université Grenoble Alpes, France
Degradation Mechanisms of the Lanthanum Strontium Cobalt Ferrite Used as Oxygen Electrode in Solid Oxide Cells - Gabriele Guzzo – University of Florence, Italy
Decarbonizing Gas: Exploring Opportunities and Challenges for Gas Networks
Congratulations to all the winners from the H2Excellence consortium! Your dedication and innovative research are vital to the advancement of hydrogen technologies and the broader energy transition.
