Hydrogen

The University of Manchester is nationally and internationally recognised for its expertise in the energy sector and our research is driving both the technology and thinking required to solve some of the energy challenges facing the UK.

Hydrogen is light, storable, energy-dense and produces no direct emissions of pollutants or greenhouse gases so has the potential to be a sustainable solution to challenges facing designing future cities, energy and transportation.

The University of Manchester can take a whole systems view of Hydrogen and with it having the widest breadth of research being undertaken by a single HEI in the UK is ideally placed to deal with these complex issues.

Amanda Lea-Langton / Head of BE Clean Futures

Our current key areas of research include:

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  Hydrogen production and delivery

  Hydrogen can be produced from any primary energy source and we are developing processes to produce hydrogen economically from sustainable resources. Researchers are currently looking at hydrogen production by; thermal processes (steam reforming) from nuclear and biomass, electrolysis of water, solar-driven processes and biological processes.

  The University of Manchester is the co-host EPSRC Supergen bioenergy hub which has strong links to biochemical H2 production and is part of the hydrogen and fuel cells SUPERGEN which evaluates and demonstrates the role of hydrogen and fuel cells in the energy landscape. Many of the production methods for hydrogen require new energy materials and we have dedicated teams in the Department of Materials, The Henry Royce Institute, UoM@Harwell and bp-ICAM developing catalysts, membranes, plasmas and nanomaterials.

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  Hydrogen storage

  One of the key benefits of hydrogen is that it can be stored for extended periods of time but research needs to be done on how to do this in a safe and cost-effective way.

  The University of Manchester already has substantial expertise in the subsurface spanning chemical, mechanical and microbiological characterisation and this expertise is being harnessed to understand underground hydrogen storage systems.

  Researchers are also characterising hydrogen storage materials by looking at metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and porous materials which can store hydrogen.

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  Cross-cutting issues

  Hydrogen is an under-utilised energy source and could play an important part in the energy transition but before it can be integrated into existing schemes cross-cutting issues need to be better understood.

  Hydrogen will need to fit within an existing energy landscape and there are existing energy sources and infrastructure that have to be considered. We have researchers looking at multi-energy systems and the use of hydrogen in future energy systems.

  Hydrogen fuel can be used in a variety of applications and researchers at Manchester are looking at its use in the transport and aviation industry. We have world-leading research policy and social acceptance in energy and as part of the energy transition, our NetZero expertise provides a fundamental frame for hydrogen implementation.

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  Safety of Hydrogen

  Hydrogen in itself is inert but when mixed with air can form explosive mixtures so there are safety concerns that need to be considered.

  The Thomas Ashton Institute is a strategic partnership between The University of Manchester and the Health and Safety Executive and is looking at the safe operation, handling and use of hydrogen.