Experiences from Designing, Authorizing and Procuring a Liquid Hydrogen Infrastructure at the Laboratory Scale

Europe’s global liquid hydrogen production share remains limited at 7%, while research institutions face an inadequate supply chain for laboratory-scale procurement. The Department of Energy at Politecnico di Milano addresses this gap through the procurement of Italy’s first laboratory-scale LH2 liquefaction system, designed with 70 L/day capacity, a 200 L ATEX-classified storage tank, and a 50 L mobile transport tank for investigations into heat transfer, cryogenic valve and sensor testing, superconducting electronics, and material compatibility. The absence of Italian standards and limited European precedents necessitated a comprehensive review of relevant European safety projects and industrial guidelines. Regulatory compliance is ongoing under ATEX directives, with safety consultants defining critical parameters via leakage simulations. The project requires around three years from conception to commissioning; this paper aims to accelerate similar implementations by sharing the experience at Politecnico di Milano for future laboratory-scale facilities. Systematic coordination among engineering design, safety consultation, and regulatory authorities remains essential for viable LH2 infrastructure implementation.