EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Hydrogen - SusHy

Started

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen end uses (incl. combustion; excl. fuel cells))
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen production)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen storage)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen transport and distribution)

Training

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (General Engineering and Mineral & Mining Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting
Other (Energy technology information dissemination)

Dr S Ling
Faculty of Engineering
University of Nottingham

Standard

EPSRC

01 April 2019

30 September 2031

150 months

£6,857,575

Energy

East Midlands

Non Theme Specific

Dr S Ling, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham

Dr E Bichoutskaia, Chemistry, University of Nottingham
Prof D Book, Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham
Dr M Giulietti, Nottingham University Business School, University of Nottingham
Dr UW Kahagala Gamage, Chemistry, Loughborough University
Professor DL Kays, Chemistry, University of Nottingham
Dr WF Lin, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University Belfast
Professor LE MacAskie, Sch of Biosciences, University of Birmingham
Dr D Makarov, School of the Built Environment, University of Ulster
Professor V Molkov, School of the Built Environment, University of Ulster
Mr R Orozco, Sch of Biosciences, University of Birmingham

The global hydrogen generation market is valued at $115.25 billion in 2017 and is projected to grow to $154.74 billion by 2022 (Global Outlook & Trends for Hydrogen, IEA, 2017). We are witnessing significant market opportunities emerging for hydrogen technologies today. New and existing hydrogen technology developments and market activities are projected to intensify over the coming decade. Sustainable hydrogen solutions are a key pathway for decarbonising transport, heat and power generation sectors. Common challenges to sustainable hydrogen being adopted across these sectors are:- Cost reduction- Safety- Systems level and multisectoral innovations- Managing changeOver the next decade innovative solutions are needed to tackle the above challenges, but it will be impossible without a dedicated mechanism to train doctoral Energy Innovation Leaders. These leaders should have a firm grasp of the technology from scientific fundamentals through to applied engineering and a solid understanding of the techno-economic barriers and an appreciation of the societal issues that will impact on the translation of disruptive technologies from research labs through to market. This goes beyond being multidisciplinary, but is a transdisciplinary training, reflecting the translation steps from understanding market driven needs, planning and conducting appropriate basic and applied research to products/solutions/system development through to successful market penetration. This is delivered by a cohort training approach through the cross fertilisation of ideas of a cohort with a diverse background, peer-demonstration of the value of research across a diverse range of stakeholder-led projects, thus facilitating a peer-to-peer transdisciplinary learning culture.The SusHy Consortium, led by Gavin Walker, continues a long running and highly successful collaboration in hydrogen research between the Universities of Nottingham, Loughborough, and Birmingham (UoN, LU, UoB) which started over a decade ago with the Midlands Energy Consortium. The Midlands Energy Graduate School spawned two successful CDTs (Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and their Applications and the current Fuel Cells and their Fuels). The current proposal for a CDT in Sustainable Hydrogen brings together the world leading expertise in hydrogen generation, purification, sensors/monitoring, and storage, along with whole systems issues (resilience engineering, business economic models and life cycle analysis) which exist across the three Universities. A gap in the consortium expertise is in the research field of hydrogen safety and we identified the internationally-renowned Hydrogen Safety Engineering and Research Centre (HySAFER) at Ulster University (UU) as the right partner to deliver on this key aspect. This is the first broad collaboration in the world seeking to investigate, train researchers and produce leaders in Sustainable Hydrogen.Stakeholder Partnerships. A key strength of this CDT is the active involvement of the Stakeholders in co-creation of the training programme which is reciprocated in the value with which the Stakeholders view of the CDT. This shared vision of a training partnership between the Universities and Stakeholders will lead to the smooth function of the CDT with not just a high-quality training programme, but a programme that is tailored to the sector needs for high-quality, industry-ready doctoral Energy Innovation Leaders. The valued CDT-stakeholder partnership will also be a significant appeal to candidates interested in energy-related PhDs and will be used to help market the CDT programme to a diverse talent pool.

15/08/19