Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions Hub (HI-ACT)

Completed

Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Energy Models)
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Energy system analysis)
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Energy Economics)
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen)

Basic and strategic applied research
Applied Research and Development

SOCIAL SCIENCES (Economics and Econometrics)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Politics and International Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Systems Analysis related to energy R&D (Other Systems Analysis)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Technology acceptance)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy)

Dr SL Walker
Fac of Engineering and Environment
Northumbria University

Standard

EPSRC

01 June 2023

21 January 2024

8 months

£10,675,390

Energy

North East

Energy and Decarbonisation

Dr SL Walker, Fac of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University

Professor A Choudhary, Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick
Dr C Crivellaro, Sch of Computin, Newcastle University
Prof PE Dodds, Bartlett Sch of Env, Energy & Resources, University College London
Dr D Flynn, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University
Dr A Foley, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University Belfast
Dr A Hawkes, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London
Professor K Henwood, Sch of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
Dr M A Imran, Centre for Communication Systems Research (CCSR), University of Surrey
Dr Y Lu, Aerospace Engineering, University of Glasgow
Dr T Mallick, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University
Dr M Qadrdan, Engineering, Cardiff University
Dr D Rooney, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University Belfast
Professor G Strbac, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London
Dr D Wu, Sch of Engineering, Newcastle University
Dr J Wu, Engineering, Cardiff University

Project Contact, ERM ltd
Project Contact, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
Project Contact, IGEM - Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers
Project Contact, Bosch (aka Robert Bosch GmbH), Germany
Project Contact, University of Surrey
Project Contact, Sheffield Forgemasters Engineering Ltd (SFEL)
Project Contact, Electric Aviation Group
Project Contact, Scottish and Southern Energy plc
Project Contact, Scottish Enterprise (SE)
Project Contact, National Grid plc
Project Contact, Northern Powergrid
Project Contact, GE (General Electric Company) UK
Project Contact, Northern Gas Networks
Project Contact, International Energy Research Centre
Project Contact, TUV SUD (UK)
Project Contact, Scottish Water
Project Contact, Lhyfe UK Ltd
Project Contact, Loganair Limited
Project Contact, Mutual Energy Limited
Project Contact, North of Tyne Combined Authority
Project Contact, Port of Tyne
Project Contact, The Crichton Trust
Project Contact, EI-H2
Project Contact, Cadent Gas
Project Contact, Donegal County Council
Project Contact, Simply Blue Energy
Project Contact, North East Local Enterprise Partnership
Project Contact, Siemens Energy Ltd
Project Contact, Energy Technology Partnership
Project Contact, Altrad Babcock
Project Contact, Wales and West Utilities
Project Contact, British Engines Limited
Project Contact, Horiba UK Ltd
Project Contact, Toshiba Europe Limited (UK)
Project Contact, University of Galway
Project Contact, Department for Transport
Project Contact, Havant and South Downs College
Project Contact, Celsa Steel UK
Project Contact, HyDEX
Project Contact, B9 Energy Ltd
Project Contact, Build Solar Limited

Hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels (HALF) have an essential role in the net-zero transition by providing connectivity and flexibility across the energy system. Despite advancements in the field of hydrogen research both in the physical sciences and engineering, significant barriers remain to the scalable adoption of hydrogen and alternative liquid fuel technologies, and energy services, into the UK's local and national whole system infrastructure. These are technical barriers, organisational barriers, regulatory and societal barriers, and financial barriers.There are, therefore, significant gaps between current levels of hydrogen production, transportation, storage, conversion, and usage, and the estimated requirement for achieving net-zero by 2050. To address this, our proposed research programme has four interlinked work packages.WP1 will develop forward-thinking HALF technology roadmaps. We will assess supply chain availability and security. Selected representative HALF use cases will be used to identify and quantify any opportunities, risks and dependencies within a whole systems analysis. We will also develop an overarching roadmap for HALF system integration in order to inform technology advancement, industry and business development, as well as policy making and social interventions.WP2 will improve HALF characterisation and explore urgent new perspectives on the energy transition, including those related to ensuring resilience and security while also achieving net-zero. We will contrast the energy transition delivered by real incentives/behaviour versus those projected by widely-used optimisation models. The WP provides the whole systems modelling engine of the HI-ACT Hub, with a diverse array of state-of-the-art tools to explore HALF integration.WP 3 will explore the vital coupling of data and information relating to whole system planning and operational decision support, through the creation of a cyber physical architecture (CPA). This will generate new learning on current and future opportunities and risks, from a data and information perspective, which will lead to a whole system ontology for accelerated integration of hydrogen technologies.WP 4 considers options for a future energy system with HALF from a number of perspectives. The first is to consider expert views on HALF energy futures, and the public perceptions of those views. The second perspective considers place-based options for social benefit in HALF energy futures. The third perspective is to consider regulatory and policy options which would better enable HALF futures.Embedded across the research programme is the intent to create robust tools which are investment-oriented in their analysis. A Whole Systems and Energy Systems Integration approach is needed here, in order to better understand the interconnected and interdependent nature of complex energy systems from a technical, social, environmental and economic perspective.The Hub is led by Prof Sara Walker, Director of the EPSRC National Centre for Energy Systems Integration, supported by a team of 16 academics at a range of career stages. The team have extensive experience of large energy research projects and strong networks of stakeholders across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They bring to the Hub major hydrogen demonstrators through support from partners involved in InTEGReL in Gateshead, ReFLEX in Orkney, and FLEXIS Demonstration in South Wales for example. We shall engage to create a vibrant, diverse, and open community that has a deeper understanding of whole systems approaches and the role of hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels within that. We shall do so in a way which embeds Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the approach. We shall do so in a way which is a hybrid of virtual and in-person field work consultation and develop appropriate digital tools for engagement

28/06/23