Sheffield green hydrogen production to boost sustainable aviation research

The University of Sheffield has announced plans to produce more green hydrogen than any other UK research centre after installing new equipment.

The hydrogen electrolyser in the university’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels Innovation Centre (SAF-IC) will enable researchers to produce, develop and test new hydrogen fuels, the university said in an announcement.

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) are seen as a vital step in reducing global carbon emissions. The aviation industry is responsible for about 7% of total carbon emissions in the UK.

Aviation’s reliance on fossil fuels makes it a challenging sector to decarbonise, however, and new fuels are subject to strict standards and regulations before they can be approved for use.

Sheffield researchers will work with partners in the aviation industry to develop new hydrogen and carbon dioxide-based fuels that meet these strict standards. They will also work with other industries across the UK to help them switch fuels and decarbonise.

With the new PEM-based electrolyser from IMI Remosa, the university can produce nearly 140Nm³ (normal cubic metre) per hour of green hydrogen, with storage capacity of 1,450Nm³ – equivalent to the electricity needed to power 200 homes.

Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian, director of the University of Sheffield’s Energy Institute, said: “In order to drive forward a decarbonised future, we must understand more about the possibilities and capabilities of green hydrogen, particularly with regards to sustainable aviation fuels.

“With this new electrolyser at our SAF-IC facility, we can work with industry and fellow academics to discover and demonstrate the best way to make a hydrogen economy, and a greener future, a reality.”

The university is also part of a consortium led by Virgin Atlantic, which is set to fly the world’s first 100% SAF transatlantic flight in November this year.

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