Q: Please could you briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience with regards to the hydrogen economy and this conference?
Caragh McWhirr, Xodus Group (CM): I am Global Hydrogen Director for Xodus and lead a small team of commercial and technical experts who are tasked with monitoring policy, technology and hydrogen project development and providing strategic direction to the rest of the business, and our clients, related to hydrogen opportunities..
Hua Zhao, Brunel University London (HZ): I am leading several research projects on the research and development of hydrogen/ammonia combustion engines for marine vessels, non-road power machineries, generators and commercial vehicles. I am also leading a pan-university hydrogen initiative to accelerate the development and application of hydrogen technologies.
Ian Arbon, Engineered Solutions (IA): I am one of those very unusual people who has spent over 50 years actually working with hydrogen – not just talking about it! I served my apprenticeship on large reciprocating hydrogen compressors at Peter Brotherhood Ltd and years later, after an international career with other gas compressor OEMs, returned there as Managing Director. I am a member of both the Energy Institute’s and IMechE’s Hydrogen Committees and have had some involvement in the organisation of this conference.
Martin Banks, Wood (MB): In my role as Director for Wood’s Clean Energy Solutions group, I am responsible for the delivery of front-end concept study work across hydrogen, BESS and traditional renewable energy technologies. Our team is based in Glasgow but with capability spread across the EMEA region and with a structure which is also replicated in the Americas and APAC.
I have been with Wood for over 10 years, originally in Oil & Gas before moving to our Clean Energy business in 2019. Shortly after this move, our business identified an opportunity to combine our renewables consultancy capability with Wood’s traditional process engineering expertise to offer a solution to the emerging green hydrogen developers as they set out to develop a basis of design and technoeconomic assessment of the opportunities they had identified.
From what was originally a team of three consultants based in Glasgow, our capability and headcount has grown significantly and we have demonstrable delivery capability globally.
Matt Hammond, National Gas (MH): In my role as a Hydrogen Innovation Engineer, I deliver innovation projects to support the transition of the National Transmission System (NTS) from natural gas to carry hydrogen and hydrogen blends. My projects are primarily focused on the impact of hydrogen and blends on our existing assets to understand if and how they can be repurposed for hydrogen duty in order to avoid constructing new pipelines and assets to save costs. The evidence we gather from this work will help us build the network safety case for hydrogen and determine which of our existing assets can be repurposed and where new technologies need to be deployed, supporting the deployment of Project Union, the hydrogen backbone for the UK, and blending within the existing natural gas network.
The development of a hydrogen transmission system for the UK has been identified as a key enabler for the hydrogen economy, linking hydrogen production, storage and end users and providing resilience and flexibility in the hydrogen supply chain.
I have worked for National Gas Transmission for over 1 year with previous technical experience in the gas industry including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) processing and gas metrology.
Robbie McCreath, AtkinsRéalis (RM): I am a Mechanical Engineer with AtkinsRéalis Net Zero Energy Business. I predominately work in the Hydrogen and Energy Storage Market, where my main focus is the design of subsurface salt caverns for hydrogen storage and the associated surface infrastructure. This includes looking at converting existing assets and developing large-scale hydrogen storage projects, from Feasibility through to Detailed Design. I attended the Engineering Challenges in the Hydrogen Economy 2023 conference as a sponsor with AtkinsRéalis which was a fantastic event and I am very much looking forward to this one!
Paul Needley, Enertek International Ltd (PN): My company, Enertek International Ltd is an independent engineering consultancy specialising in domestic and commercial heating and cooking appliance design, development, and certification.
We were privileged to play a major part in BEIS’ Hy4Heat programme with several manufacturers to investigate the concept and feasibility of 100% hydrogen replacing natural gas as a fuel source for domestic and commercial appliances in homes and businesses.
The Hy4Heat project proved that domestic and commercial appliances can be made to operate with hydrogen, but there are several economic, political and engineering hurdles to overcome to make this a reality and we are involved in all three areas.
My presentation will cover how these challenges are aligned and what needs to be done to enable the government to make an informed, evidence based decision on whether to convert the gas grid to hydrogen for residential and commercial buildings.
Darren Fitzgerald, Rail Safety and Standards Board (DF): Hydrogen in the rail industry is not an entirely new concept – in 2005, RSSB published a feasibility study into the use of hydrogen fuel in the rail sector and since then there have been several studies and in-service trials of hydrogen rail vehicles; however, these studies have typically focused on hydrogen in isolated applications with limited vehicles running in service.
As the Principal Electrical & Systems Rolling Stock Engineer for RSSB, I have been made the lead technical specialist on a project which will define the hydrogen system for the rail industry so that it may be adapted by others. I have worked with RSSB colleagues across policy and system safety and health departments to answer fundamental questions from industry when it comes to operating a fleet of vehicles that are fuelled by hydrogen.
Ed Gilford, National Gas (EG): Through a pioneering programme called Project Union, National Gas are supporting the UKs net zero targets by developing a national hydrogen backbone, transporting 100% hydrogen, which will connect hydrogen production and storage with end users. Project Union is looking at developing the backbone through predominantly repurposing existing natural gas pipelines to create a network around 2000km long.
In my role as Hydrogen Development Engineer, I sit within the Project Union team and I am responsible for the pre-FEED study for one of the regions, East Coast, that make up the Project Union network. This involves looking at the suitability of existing infrastructure to be repurposed. In instances sections of pipelines cannot be repurposed due to technical, economic or location factors an assessment for new pipeline routing options is carried out. The development of these repurposed and new build sections require extensive stakeholder engagement across the hydrogen value chain to ensure we develop the most cost effective and efficient network solution that enables widespread access to hydrogen. In my presentation, alongside my colleague Matt Hammond from the innovation team, we’ll go into detail on the process of developing this network and assessing infrastructure’s suitability for repurposing.
Hadi Moztarzadeh, Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (HM): The APC UK is a joint venture between UK government and the automotive industry to facilitate and accelerate decarbonisation of the UK automotive industry. I lead the technology team at the APC, where I oversee our insight and foresight portfolio and Automotive Council roadmaps. I believe in diversification of energy vectors, net zero technologies and a resilient supply chain to underpin a sustainable automotive industry. Complementary to electrification, I believe Hydrogen plays a role in the net zero journey for the automotive sector. I would be keen to understand the broader aspects of hydrogen economy in the UK, to leverage any cross-sector learning, in support of a truly net zero transport ecosystem.
Sikander Mahmood, Cadent Gas (SM): In my role as the hydrogen blending programme manager, I am deeply involved in shaping the transition to a cleaner, low carbon gas network. Hydrogen blending has the opportunity to provide significant support to the overall hydrogen economy and to allow this, we must first prove it’s safe to do so. My responsibilities include leading the development, review and submission of the national safety evidence which will form the basis for a potential regulatory change to enable blending at scale.
Nick Ryan, Steer Energy (NR): I am technical director at Steer Energy and have led the hydrogen research carried out at our Gloucestershire site. Steer’s work to date has contributed to the energy sector, largely the gas industry, and recently hydrogen research supporting the conversion of the gas network to hydrogen. The work we have carried out has investigated how current gas industry standards, processes and procedures need to change for hydrogen.
Steer’s introduction to hydrogen research began during the Hy4Heat programme which explored hydrogen use in the domestic gas network. We investigated leakage in gas installations and demonstrated that a low-pressure system that is deemed leak free for natural gas is leak free for hydrogen. Since then, our work on commissioning and decommissioning of gas installations has shown the importance of diffusion in the mixing of hydrogen and air during purging operations. Flammability research has shown that although it has wider flammable limits, hydrogen leakage is not necessarily more hazardous than natural gas leakage. In like for like scenarios, faster diffusion and lower density of hydrogen lead to rapid dispersion, reducing gas concentration, and making hydrogen more detectable than natural gas.
Our work at Steer is underpinned by experimental evidence. We aim to examine what is likely to be seen in real world examples and use empirical methods to develop an understanding of mechanisms behind each scenario.
This work feeds into the development of new gas industry standards, processes, and tooling to be adopted in hydrogen trials and in the roll out beyond.
Q: What, in your experience, has been the biggest roadblock for utilising hydrogen in your sector?
CM: We focus more on the production end than utilisation as an upstream energy consultancy. The main blockers we see are uncertainties around policy support mechanisms, and uncertainty around the development of demand in step with supply development.
HZ: The lack of infrastructure of hydrogen supply and storage is the biggest roadblock for the utilisation of the hydrogen in powertrain systems for transport and power generation.
IA: ‘Silo mentality’ among most people working in the hydrogen sector in the UK; almost everyone is totally focussed on their own ‘technology’ and hardly anyone is looking at the whole hydrogen system and how all the various individual producer and consumer projects can be joined together; in particular, determining how vast quantities of hydrogen can possibly be transported around this country.
MB: Wood is active across Clean Energy, Process & Chemicals, Mining & Minerals and Life Sciences end markets and hydrogen has a potential role in each of these in supporting end users to decarbonise their assets and operations. Whilst there are unique elements within each market, a constant theme is uncertainty and risk; ensuring that end users can rely upon there being a cost competitive and reliable supply of hydrogen whilst ensuring that developers can rely upon there being a robust demand for the product at an appropriate price to justify their investment.
MH: Hydrogen has been used safely over decades in many industries however we still need to build a safety case which is appropriate for our network and assets and how it will operate. As the UK hydrogen economy is in early development, there is still uncertainty around the scenarios for hydrogen which will have a significant impact on how our network will need to operate, for example decisions on hydrogen blending in the transmission system. The UK Government’s Hydrogen Business Models will give us certainty on the future of hydrogen and will help accelerate the deployment of hydrogen in the National Transmission System through blending and Project Union.
RM: It’s difficult to pick a single roadblock – however the relative immaturity of the hydrogen industry and the low technology readiness levels of equipment at the appropriate volumes, pressures and flowrates has been a key roadblock. This can likely be attributed to the cost of hydrogen when there has been - until recently - little incentives for alternatives to fossil fuels, and public acceptance. Overcoming these challenges need skilled engineers and government policy, which will be essential to kick start a hydrogen economy.
PN: There are two roadblocks preventing progress regarding hydrogen for heating and cooking, one is the obvious current lack of availability of low-cost hydrogen to put in the pipes, and the second is the ‘electrify everything’ lobby who oppose and refuse to consider that there is any alternative to electricity, without explaining where the extra electricity is coming from and how it will be distributed. This slows all processes, including electrification where it is the most appropriate!
DF: The use of hydrogen at scale and the implications of a potentially significant event may have on other rail subsystems and neighbours, as well as determining the boundaries of responsibility during such events, is perceived as being the biggest roadblock.
EG: A decision on the hydrogen transport and storage business models. The new business models will establish the principles of UK Government’s support for hydrogen transport and storage projects. It is critical that the new business models provide the right incentives for investment. The risk in delay on this announcement is extension of project delivery timelines and therefore missing key government dates for hydrogen and decarbonisation targets.
HM: There is currently a global race to decarbonise all industrial sectors and the automotive industry is not an exception. We know that hydrogen will play a role in decarbonisation of the automotive industry. I think the main challenges, in the auto industry, can be broadly categorised into three areas: technological, infrastructural and the higher-level economic challenges:
1. Technological challenges around hydrogen-based propulsion technologies, hydrogen Fuel Cell system, hydrogen storage tank and H2 ICE relates to efficiency and safety, while keeping the cost down. Currently, the TCO for Hydrogen FCEV and H2ICE vehicles are not quite competitive with BEV. With advancements in efficiency and scalability of hydrogen-based propulsion technologies, they could become a favourable option for specific applications.
2. Underpinning Infrastructure, including production facilities, distribution networks, and refuelling stations, is crucial for the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
3. Economic challenges are mainly around producing hydrogen in a sustainable and cost-effective manner. Transitioning to low-carbon or renewable hydrogen production methods, such as electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources could address issues related to cost, scalability, and efficiency.
SM: Whilst numerous challenges exist, the gas networks boast a long history of managing safe networks. One of the main roadblocks is the absence of regulation and standards governing the safe distribution and use of hydrogen. Substantial research efforts are underway to develop the necessary safety evidence to address these blockers and pave the way for the safe integration of hydrogen into existing infrastructure.
NR: The biggest roadblock is probably peoples’ pre-conceptions and the resistance to change. The desire to maintain the status quo is a significant hurdle to overcome.
It is important to recognise that hydrogen is an energy vector and not a prime energy source as yet. There will be production costs, just as there are for current fuels. Once produced, there are many opportunities to use hydrogen to store, transport, and distribute energy from production to consumption. Hydrogen has the potential to replace traditional fossil derived energy vectors such as oil-based products that dominate the transport sector and natural gas that dominates heating and electricity generation sectors. A fundamental opportunity and challenge going forward is the utilisation of current UK national infrastructure for energy transmission and distribution. The digest of UK energy statistics (DUKES) shows the current dependence that the UK has on fossil fuels. In 2022, the total energy accounted for was 3000 TWh and 2500 TWh (83%) of that energy came from petroleum, natural gas and coal. We clearly have a long way to go to achieve net-zero emissions and a major part involves changing or adapting current infrastructure used for our energy. New non-fossil energy sources need to be found, along with the ability to transport that energy to the end user. Hydrogen provides a mechanism to store and transport energy using current infrastructure.
Transitioning to renewables is a huge undertaking and there will be resistance to this change. The impact of climate change is not clearly linked to day-to-day consumer use of energy, cost-benefit economics are unlikely to drive this transition.
Q: What key topics are you excited to discuss at this year's conference?
CM: Hydrogen storage is increasingly getting attention as a vital part of integrated energy systems, particularly with respect to the role it will play in allow electrical systems to operate securely. I’m interested to speak to people about what they see as the needs for storage and understand where this is most needed in the near term.
HZ: New hydrogen production and storage technologies, the use of hydrogen as a fuel for combustion engines.
IA: Presenting the Energy Institute’s 2022 report “Evaluating the energy balance and efficiency of a whole hydrogen energy system, from production to consumption”, which will go some way to addressing the issue raised in the previous point.
MB: For those who have attended and supported hydrogen conferences for some time, there is increased excitement now as projects move from the conceptual phase into later stages of detailed design and implementation. Learning of the progress of these projects and the new challenges which are emerging will be very interesting and hopefully conferences such as this can be a driver to resolving these challenges.
MH: We are currently working with our current natural gas offtakers on their transition to hydrogen, however we are also keen to work with new industries (e.g. transport) to understand their hydrogen needs and decarbonisation strategies. We are looking at alternative low carbon fuels such as e-methanol, ammonia and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to decarbonise our own assets and operations, and to learn how our future hydrogen network can support the large-scale production of these fuels.
RM: All things subsurface; AtkinsRéalis are currently designing some of the largest and most interesting subsurface hydrogen storage projects. Large scale salt cavern storage is a fascinating approach that holds immense promise in addressing the crucial challenge of efficient hydrogen storage, essential for the widespread adoption of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier.
Salt caverns offer unique advantages for hydrogen storage, namely high integrity, impermeability, scalability and economic viability. I also have a keen interest on the geological aspects of subsurface storage, such as site selection and characterisation, ultimately both the key enabler and limitation for salt caverns considering their geologically dependent nature.
PN: I will discuss the opportunities for householders if hydrogen is made available to them for heating and cooking, and the implications for them if it is not.
DF: The work that I have been collaborating on with industry. In particular, demonstrating how RSSB will support them in the future to understand risks of deploying a hydrogen fuelled fleet of vehicles.
EG: I’m excited to attend the session on Storage Considerations. As we transition to renewable energy technologies the need for energy storage, short and long term, will only become greater. It’s been established in multiple net-zero energy scenarios that hydrogen is required for long term energy storage. One of the more recent reports from The Royal Society, states that for the UK to meet net zero requirements by 2050 that around 100TWh of hydrogen storage is required. Project Union can contribute to achieving this target by connecting hydrogen production and demand into storage via pipelines, but the storage facilities will need to be developed in tandem. Therefore, I’m interested to hear about the considerations and progress in developing large scale hydrogen storage.
HM: When we talk about decarbonisation, it’s not only about on-vehicle technologies, but the lifecycle of the vehicle and embedded emission across the entire value chain. Understanding the opportunities that the broader hydrogen industry could offer to decarbonise the entire vehicle lifecycle could be very valuable. I would like to understand more about the energy sector and how they would integrate hydrogen as an energy vector for industrial decarbonisation and how automotive industry could implement and benefit from that.
Automotive-wise, I will be presenting an overview of our Hydrogen Fuel Cell roadmap alongside our brand-new hydrogen storage roadmap, both are still being validated with industry and automotive R&D ecosystem. I would like to explore supply chain opportunities for current players in the hydrogen landscape, to see if they could play a role for the automotive supply chain. How the broader automotive ecosystem could learn from the hydrogen industry and utilise any cross-sector learning to facilitate the net zero journey for the sector.
SM: I am particularly excited to delve into the benefits of blending hydrogen and how adopting the right approach to innovation and evidence creation can shape a compelling narrative.
NR: I’d be most interested to find out what challenges are faced by the different sectors. Steer’s work has been focused on the UK gas supply from transmission to end use. This encompasses a large range of infrastructure types, however there will be many challenges to overcome as the gas industry transitions to hydrogen.
At Steer we are always looking for new challenges and working collaboratively we can see huge value in transferring knowledge between sectors. I’ll be looking at topics that explore utilisation and practical handling of hydrogen.
Q: Regarding the utilisation of hydrogen, what would you say are the technologies or applications to watch for the future?
CM: In many ways efficiency is the king, and any improvements in electrolyser efficiency immediately result in improved revenue. I believe we’re going to see a stronger focus on the operation and optimisation of plant as design mature and plants begin operation. I think we need to keep a close eye on designing for operability, availability and maintainability and demonstrating good performance as the technologies mature.
HZ: H2 internal combustion engines and Ammonia internal combustion engines.
IA: As mentioned in the foregoing, there is already too much focus on developing disparate technologies and far too little on joining them all together as a complete system.
MB: The electrolyser industry is an area of intense innovation. However, to demonstrate the feasibility of large scale hydrogen production, we first need technology providers to demonstrate that the current technology being put forward as part of early stage project development can operate safely, reliably and predictably in service as it is these products that will provide the base for the industry to grow. With the proof of concept validated and a baseline of clean hydrogen production established, the fantastic innovation which we see in development can follow and support reductions in cost of production and increased availability of products.
MH: I am interested to learn about hydrogen storage technologies which could offer seasonal and long duration storage of hydrogen safely and efficiently. This could be direct storage of hydrogen or via another medium, such as metal hydrides or liquid organic carriers.
Hydrogen storage will play a critical role in the hydrogen economy and will be required to support hydrogen networks due to the lower energy density of hydrogen compared to natural gas.
RM: The use of hydrogen as a means of energy storage is what excites me the most, particularly leveraging hydrogen as a storage solution for excess renewable energy, particularly from sources like wind power. This involves harnessing surplus energy during peak production periods, converting it into green hydrogen through electrolysis, and storing it for subsequent use.
The ability to store energy in the form of hydrogen addresses a critical challenge in renewable energy integration – the intermittent nature of sources like wind. By creating a link between excess renewable energy and hydrogen production during surplus times, we could establish a reliable energy reservoir that can be tapped into when demand peaks or during periods of low renewable energy generation. This concept not only enhances grid stability but also promotes the efficient utilisation of renewable resources.
The prospect of utilising green hydrogen as a storage medium aligns with the broader goals of decarbonisation, offering a versatile energy carrier that can be applied across various sectors, including transportation, industry, and power generation.
PN: Power generation is critical to the country and this should be done in the most economical and efficient manner. This could involve local conversion of hydrogen to electricity using hydrogen fuelled micro combined heat and power appliances.
Electric heat pumps are accepted as being an efficient use of energy, but hydrogen powered heat pumps can bring additional advantages for the user.
DF: For the rail sector, I think the use of hydrogen in a combustion engine is an application that may overtake the current focus of using hydrogen in a fuel cell. The benefits of using hydrogen in an IC engine could reduce costs when it comes to changing existing prime movers of vehicles, which is currently diesel engines, and also retain an already established work force who understand the concepts of such a system.
EG: I think that small nuclear reactors (SMRs) coupled with electrolytic hydrogen production is a technology to look out for. SMRs as a standalone technology are an exciting development. SMRs have the benefits of nuclear power plants, deemed to be fossil fuel free etc, with the addition that SMRs are much quicker to develop, due to modular and standardised design. Also, a greater flexibility on where they can be located due to their smaller footprint. SMRs provide an energy baseload, but when all energy requirements can be met through renewable energy this baseload from the SMRs can be utilised to produce hydrogen through electrolysis. This surplus hydrogen (energy) can be stored and utilised to counter seasonal variances in energy demand and energy production from weather dependant renewables. The smaller footprint of the SMRs mean they can be located near to hydrogen storage sites or existing pipelines for transporting the hydrogen to storage.
HM: Availability and production of hydrogen has been a discussion point around the future of hydrogen industry. Any innovation in this space could leverage the role of hydrogen in difference sector-specific applications.
We need diversification of energy vectors to support the future demand in automotive industry, and I believe hydrogen will play a role in that mix. However, the longer-term provision of hydrogen, as an energy vector, would depend on the total cost of ownership and of course availability of hydrogen to support automotive requirements, refuelling, range, etc. So, technologies and innovation which could facilitate sustainable production of hydrogen, specifically green hydrogen, could make a positive impact and should be supported.
SM: In this fast-growing sector there are many technologies which we can be excited to see in the future. Firstly (selfishly) to see hydrogen blending roll out across Great Britain will be a significant milestone. Advancements in fuel cell and hydrogen combustion technologies for transport including vehicles, buses, HGVs are worth watching. Additionally, the conversion of some the UKs largest manufacturers such as Heinz, Kellogg’s etc. presents a significant opportunity for accelerating the transition.
NR: I’d keep an open mind on this. The transport sector is huge, so this is one to watch as opportunities are significant, and the impact could be far reaching. The heating sector is also a significant portion of overall energy use so another one to watch. Heat pumps are an obvious solution to heating, however there are significant barriers to universal roll out in terms of suitability of housing stock and the limited capacity of the electricity network. Different barriers exist for hydrogen. Complementary systems which provide at least one workable solution in all cases and permits consumer choice where possible, is a clear route to decarbonising heating.
The transition to hydrogen is also an opportunity to review and improve existing processes, applying new knowledge to improve current tools, systems, and practices.
Q: Who else are you most interested in hearing from on the programme?
CM: Everyone that is talking about storage and integrated energy systems.
HZ: The commitment and support to implement hydrogen economy by the government and industries.
IA: I am very interested in National Gas’ “Project Union: Repurposing Infrastructure to Create a National Hydrogen Backbone” but will be speaking on the other track at the same time.
MB: The conference touches on a broad range of topics, there really is something for everyone regardless of their role within the hydrogen market or if they are an interested observer. For me, the opportunity to engage on a more technical level on topics which we don’t have the opportunity to explore through the normal delivery of our work will be very interesting and beneficial for my own professional development.
MH: I am keen to hear from Alasdair Cairns from MariNH3 on the latest in green ammonia as a marine fuel and the marine industries interactions with hydrogen, as this is an area we are starting to explore.
RM: I am very interested to hear the presentation on “Repurposing Existing Infrastructure”, a subject I work on and believe will be essential to fast track an efficient hydrogen economy. Furthermore, I am keen to hear more about the development of green ammonia for transportation which looks to be a promising technology for large scale transportation.
PN: The production of low-cost hydrogen with minimal CO2 release is key to using hydrogen in all areas, so the speakers in the second session of the first day (Hydrogen Production and Supply) will be key to listen to.
DF: Those speaking on the topics of hydrogen transportation and distribution, electrolyser technologies, standards and regulations and mobility.
EG: I’m looking forward to hearing from Gaynor Woodford from TÜV Rheinland. They’ll be talking about converting gas infrastructure on the European mainland. I’ll interested to hear about their approach to repurposing/ converting existing infrastructure, and the similarities and differences between Project Union where we are looking at repurposing parts of the GBs existing gas transmission network.
HM: I would like to learn more about the role of hydrogen in other industrial sectors and how, for example energy sector, are going to integrate it into their longer-term plan. I believe there are always some cross-cutting themes and cross-sector learnings which could support the future of hydrogen in the auto sector. So, understating some of the use-cases and applications from other sectors could be interesting.
Implementing supportive policies, incentives, and regulations can also play a crucial role in accelerating the development and deployment of hydrogen technologies in the automotive sector. Understanding the broader landscape could help us to develop and deploy the right mechanisms in the right place for the right purpose.
I would also be interested in a broader discussion for a UK-wide strategy to support hydrogen economy and underpinning R&D ecosystem. For example, the talk on a national-level overview of hydrogen infrastructure could be an interesting one.
SM: I am particularly excited to hear from the experts in the field of hydrogen storage, as this topic plays a crucial role in unlocking the full potential of hydrogen. Learning about the advancements and strategies for overcoming existing challenges will provide valuable insights. Additionally, I look forward to hearing from industry leaders who are driving forward-thinking initiatives to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen technologies.
NR: Ed Gilford and Matt Hammond speaking about Project Union, Sikander Mahmood speaking about HyDeploy. Christopher Connolly on Nuclear Generated Hydrogen and Hua Zhao on Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines.
Q: Why is it important for engineers to join this conference?
CM: This conference covers a really interesting breadth of sectors and it’s a great opportunity to listen to the problems, and solutions, in sectors adjacent to your own.
HZ: To get an overview of the hydrogen economy and update on the technologies and policies on the development and application of hydrogen.
IA: In the UK, the whole Hydrogen Agenda is driven by non-engineers (scientists, politicians, big business interests, financiers, etc.) while engineers, as usual, are relegated to being the people who ‘make things happen’, without having any influence over whether these things make any technical or commercial sense. Unless engineers are directly involved in policymaking, wrong decisions will continue to be made.
MB: For engineers, there are few themes larger than decarbonisation. Particularly in power, transport and heat, we are moving from a period of evolution to revolution and it is important that we are prepared for this change and motivated by the opportunities it will create.
MH: This conference covers a wide range of topics related to the hydrogen economy and will therefore be very useful to any engineers wanting to gain an understanding of the hydrogen economy from an engineering perspective, hear about the latest updates and technologies, or meet with experts across the hydrogen value chain. Hydrogen has huge potential to decarbonise many sectors however there are still significant engineering challenges to overcome, and these industries need engineers to be working on these problems today.
RM: As I previously alluded to in my previous response; skilled engineers will be critical for overcoming the challenges with unlocking a hydrogen economy. This conference provides a unique platform for engineers across various industries to share insights, learn from each other's experiences, and to expand networks. Combining this expertise will be essential for developing innovative solutions for issues like low technology readiness levels and ensuring the safety and efficiency of hydrogen applications.
We are at the start of a new era in sustainable energy, and the collective knowledge and collaboration of engineers will play a central role in steering the hydrogen economy toward success.
PN: Politicians make decisions, but engineers have to successfully implement their decisions. This task is much easier if engineers are able to provide politicians with evidence-based facts before they make their decision, hence engineers need to be engaged in the political and economic considerations from the beginning of any major initiative or project.
DF: It is becoming established how hydrogen might apply in other sectors, and in the case of transport this is typically for marine and automotive, but it is important to acknowledge that the rail sector may be a key player in Hydrogen Economy and the quantity of hydrogen required will likely be large. Engineers who wish to have a bigger picture view of how hydrogen will be applied horizontally across sectors will likely benefit from the two day event.
EG: Although Hydrogen is currently used in industrial processes, such as fertiliser production, in most cases this is unabated hydrogen. The focus we are now seeing is on abated hydrogen production. This, as well as decarbonising these existing processes, opens the door for the use of hydrogen in a range of other industries for fuel switching, energy storage and generation. Engineers should attend the conference, so they are aware of the potential of hydrogen to decarbonise their industry but also understand the challenges and how others have overcome them.
HM: Like all other IMechE events and conferences, I would always enjoy the networking opportunity it provides. There is a chance for insightful informal chat with like-minded technical experts which is eye-opening.
Hydrogen plays a key role in the energy mix in our journey to net zero. I am looking forward to join the great line-up of industrial speakers who will provide an insightful couple of days to learn more about cross-sector practices to take advantage of this energy vector and hopefully lead to a more coherent national effort to support our green future.
SM: It’s important to join to keep informed of the latest developments in the hydrogen sector. It offers a unique opportunity to network with industry peers, exchange insights and collaborate on tackling common challenges.
NR: Extreme weather events are becoming more and more common, and often most affect those removed from the cause. Hydrogen is one of the routes to achieving net zero and beyond towards reversing global warming. In today’s energy hungry consumer driven society, engineers have the opportunity to create and shape the future to both meet demands but also ensure sustainability for the next generation. This conference is a forum to discuss those challenges facing the hydrogen economy.
The Engineering Challenges in the Hydrogen Economy 2024 conference will be taking place on 6-7 March 2024 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Join this conference to:
- Hear case studies from mature projects addressing infrastructure challenges for production, storage and distribution
- Identify bottlenecks and barriers in moving to a hydrogen economy
- Develop your understanding of the utilisation across different engineering sectors including rail, heavy-duty, aerospace, power generation, marine and more
- Hear from leading experts in the field and explore opportunities to collaborate on new projects
- Gain insight into gaps in the market and requirements for new technology
- Take away lessons learned from other innovative companies to ensure optimal development strategies
- Understand how your existing equipment or products can be deployed in the new hydrogen economy
To book your place, please visit the event website.