The Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) prepared networking opportunities and pitches from emerging hydrogen technology developers. I had the opportunity to speak to at least 13 companies and institutions in the field of our activities at HI-ACT project. In general, I was able to explain to them the key objectives in the project, mainly in WP1 and WP3, as well as the key achievements in these WPs.



The day kicked off with arrivals and networking, followed by a welcome address from David Wimpenny and Katy Milne of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), alongside Daniella Carneiro from the Department for Business & Trade. They emphasized the economic importance of the global hydrogen sector for the UK and HII’s critical role in addressing industry obstacles. The next session, “H2 Propulsion for Transportation,” featured Daniel Fung and Angad Jessel of the Advanced Propulsion Centre, Chris Dudfield of Intelligent Energy, and James McMicking of ZeroAvia, who discussed hydrogen’s transformative potential for decarbonizing air and road transport.



Report on the event:

Building Competitive Hydrogen Supply Chains – Coventry 18th March



The Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) prepared networking opportunities and pitches from emerging hydrogen technology developers. I had the opportunity to speak to at least 13 companies and institutions in the field of our activities at HI-ACT project.



In general, I was able to explain to them the key objectives in the project, mainly in WP1 and WP3, as well as the key achievements in these WPs.



The day kicked off with arrivals and networking, followed by a welcome address from David Wimpenny and Katy Milne of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), alongside Daniella Carneiro from the Department for Business & Trade. They emphasized the economic importance of the global hydrogen sector for the UK and HII’s critical role in addressing industry obstacles.



The next session, “H2 Propulsion for Transportation,” featured Daniel Fung and Angad Jessel of the Advanced Propulsion Centre, Chris Dudfield of Intelligent Energy, and James McMicking of ZeroAvia, who discussed hydrogen’s transformative potential for decarbonizing air and road transport.



After a refreshment break, the “End-to-end Storage” session showed solutions for storing and transporting large-scale hydrogen, presented by Frank Ashton of Chesterfield Special Cylinders and Paul Rowe of Wessington Cryogenics. This was followed by “Hydrogen Innovator Pitches,” where organizations like CPH2, BGT Fuel Cells, Xcience, AMIC, H2 Refinery, and Stratospheric Platforms highlighted their cutting-edge technologies, offering a glimpse into the future of hydrogen innovation.



Lunch and networking preceded the “HII Success Stories” session, where Rebecca Advani and Athanasios Grammatikopoulos of Connected Places Catapult (CPC) their works on hydrogen refueling, hydrogen-fueled aircraft, infrastructure for fixed-wing hydrogen flight, and portable fuel cell generators for construction sites. Next, “Skills for the Hydrogen Supply Chains” featured George Jenkins of the National Composites Centre, who outlined the Hydrogen Skills Alliance’s efforts to develop a skilled workforce for the sector.



Following another refreshment break, “Opportunities & Challenges in the Hydrogen Sector” brought insights from Ben Madden of Hydrogen UK and James Collins of ITM Power, exploring the strategic and practical dimensions of advancing the UK’s hydrogen ambitions. The event wrapped up with “Hydrogen: The Way Forwards,” where Daniel Hobbs of CPC presented a visionary roadmap for the UK hydrogen sector, building on HII’s achievements, followed by a formal close.



Recently representatives from HI-ACT (Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions) and UK-HyRES had the privilege of joining a UK delegation to Berlin, engaging in high-impact discussions with leading German hydrogen research institutions.



Our visit, supported by the British Embassy Berlin, was an invaluable opportunity to exchange insights on hydrogen innovation, system integration, and deployment pathways—key to accelerating the clean energy transition.



Key highlights:


H₂ Forum: An insightful experience engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders across policy, research, and industry, providing valuable perspectives on the broader hydrogen landscape and the challenges of large-scale deployment.



Fraunhofer Institutes: Thought-provoking discussions at the British Embassy Berlin with experts from Fraunhofer IEG, IKTS, IFAM, Fraunhofer-Institut für Windenergiesysteme on hydrogen production, storage, and utilization. The session also provided an opportunity to hear from Innovate UK about Horizon Europe opportunities and explore pathways for UK-German collaboration.Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft: A fascinating visit to their laboratories, delving into fundamental hydrogen research shaping the next generation of energy technologies.



Helmholtz Association: Deep discussions at their Head Office in Berlin with representatives from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Forschungszentrum Jülich, and German Aerospace Center (DLR). We explored collaboration on hydrogen model regions, offshore hydrogen production, and system integration.



These exchanges reaffirm the shared commitment of the UK and Germany to pioneering hydrogen solutions for Net Zero. The discussions on integrating hydrogen into future energy systems, repurposing existing infrastructure, and cross-border collaboration will inform HI-ACT’s research and strategic priorities.



A huge thank you to our German hosts, the British Embassy, and all participating institutions for their insights and hospitality. We look forward to strengthening these collaborations to accelerate the hydrogen transition together!

Subhasish Mukerjee, Meysam Qadrdan, Sibimol Luke, Ruiyang He, John Irvine, Goran Strbac, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, @departmentfor UKRI, EPSRC, BMBF, BMWK, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Research, Science & Innovation



Authors: Dr Hamed Kalantari, Dr Sube Singh, and Professor Alok Choudhary



The UK is making rapid progress toward its 2050 net-zero targets, with hydrogen playing a key role in its overall net-zero strategy. As part of our HI-Act research initiative, we recently hosted a stakeholder workshop titled ‘UK Hydrogen Supply Chain: Capabilities, Readiness, and Strategic Challenges’ at WMG, University of Warwick, on 15 January 2025. The event brought together hydrogen industry experts to evaluate the sector’s capabilities, industry readiness, and potential collaborations to enhance hydrogen adoption in the UK.



Understanding the UK Hydrogen Supply Chain

The UK hydrogen market is expanding rapidly due to government targets for net-zero emissions and increasing demand for renewable energy. By 2030, the UK aims to produce 10 GW of low-carbon hydrogen, encompassing both green and blue hydrogen. While the country has strong industrial and scientific capabilities, it faces significant challenges, including infrastructure limitations, financial constraints, and global competition.



Our research adopted a comprehensive approach to assess the UK’s hydrogen supply chain, combining desk-based research and synthesising stakeholder views and feedback. We mapped the UK hydrogen supply chain to evaluate dependencies, from raw materials for production, distribution, storage, and end users ‘ applications through to analysing to the manufacture of critical components such as electrolysers and fuel cells.

Our analysis categorised UK company capabilities into three key segments: infrastructure project developers and service providers, end-product manufacturers, and component suppliers. We gathered data to showcase the UK’s capability in these areas, including companies, their competencies and location etc. We presented a supply chain map showcasing the UK’s Hydrogen Supply Base capability.



To gauge supply chain readiness, we applied four key criteria: Industry Specialisation, Suitable Manufacturers, R&D Capability, and Global Competitiveness.

This assessment provided a framework to evaluate the UK’s standing in various aspects of the hydrogen industry, from supply chain security to long-term growth scenarios. Stakeholder insights, gathered through focus group discussions with over 50 industry representatives, further validated our findings and helped refine our readiness scoring approach.



Key Takeaways from the Stakeholder Workshop

The workshop at WMG served as a platform for in-depth discussions and brainstorming, knowledge sharing and panel discussions on hydrogen technologies, policies, and industry challenges. Key highlights included:




2. Panel Discussion: Challenges and Opportunities

A panel of industry experts examined critical aspects of the UK hydrogen economy, highlighting:

Technological and Public Perception Barriers: Strategies for overcoming cost constraints, increasing public confidence, and raising awareness about hydrogen’s benefits





4. Rapid-Fire Industry Presentations

The workshop concluded with insights from leading industry representatives:

Prof. David Wimpenny (Manufacturing Technology Centre): Highlighted supply chain challenges, particularly in securing a stable supply of critical raw materials and components.

Debra Jones (Innovate UK Business Connect): Shared strategies for fostering SME partnerships in the hydrogen sector and unlocking funding opportunities.


Strategic Outlook for the UK Hydrogen Supply Chain

Our insights from the workshop, combined with insights from Hydrogen UK and HII on the hydrogen supply chain strategy further emphasise key areas that require immediate attention:



Export Opportunities: The UK can position itself as a global leader by leveraging its strengths in offshore wind energy to produce green hydrogen for international markets. Creating a robust export strategy will allow UK firms to compete in the growing global hydrogen economy.

Our research and workshop findings highlights the UK’s strengths in hydrogen adoption, including:

Significant technological advancements in electrolysis and carbon capture

A skilled workforce and strong R&D capabilities

A leading role in offshore wind energy, which complements hydrogen production



However, challenges continues the areas including:

Opportunities for growth include transforming existing gas networks, expanding workforce training, and fostering industry collaboration to strengthen the supply chain. Additionally, the UK has the potential to lead in electrolysis and hydrogen storage technologies by leveraging its research capabilities to meet global hydrogen demand.



Conclusion: Shaping the Future of the UK Hydrogen Supply Chain

The UK stands at a crucial juncture in its hydrogen journey. While it has made significant progress in production and technology, infrastructure development, financial support, and strategic policy alignment will be essential to sustaining its progress. Our research, complemented by insights from the Hydrogen UK and HII, provides a roadmap for addressing these challenges and ensuring the UK remains a leader in the global hydrogen economy.


As we move forward, industry, academia, and policymakers must work together to strengthen the hydrogen supply chain and drive innovation. The UK has the expertise and resources—now is the time to act.



Shuai Yao, Modassar Chaudry

Cardiff University



HI-ACT is developing a set of Hydrogen and Alternative Liquid Fuels (HALF) Use Cases with WP1 “The Way Forward”.  We are building on existing global and national research trial and demonstration projects, building Use Cases that look at specific situations in which HALF will be used and integrated.  One such Use Case is looking at the South Wales Industrial Cluster. Working closely with one of our key stakeholders, Net Zero Industrial Wales, Dr Shuai Yao and Dr Modassar Chaudry are conducting research looking at the integration of hydrogen in a large regional cluster.  This blog highlights some of their current work.



South Wales is the second biggest industrial and power emitter of carbon in the UK, with over 16m tonnes of CO2e per annum. The South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC) project brings together various disparate sectors in South Wales that are crucial for decarbonisation and the development of a hydrogen economy. The aim is to develop a world leading, truly sustainable industrial cluster, befitting the societal needs of 2030 and beyond.



Figure 1 illustrates that SWIC covers a large geographic area with various industries such as energy, oil refining, paper, nickel, chemicals, LNG imports, steel, and cement. Also highlighted are key areas for development which includes the production of hydrogen, transport and the capture and use of CO2.

Figure 1. South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC) map (South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC) https://www.swic.cymru/)

System modelling



South Wales and SWIC in general represent an ideal and high potential use-case for evaluating the impact of electrification on regional grids and the role of hydrogen. A model of the South Wales distribution networks will be developed, based on which the impact of electrification and the role of hydrogen will be quantified. This model and analysis will provide inputs for the whole-system, integrated planning and operation of electricity, gas, hydrogen, and district heating infrastructure to help reduce costs and support local regeneration.

Methodology

The South Wale DFES (Distribution Future Energy Scenarios) dataset will be firstly processed to project the electric demand at each PSS (Primary Substation) across three scenarios: Consumer Transformation, System Transformation, and Leading the Way, up to year 2050. At the same time, the rated capacity of each PSS will be extracted from the substation capacity map. By comparing the projected electric demand with the rated capacity of substations, the load factors of each PSS, along with their total required additional capacities to accommodate load growths across three scenarios, can be obtained. With the inclusion of economic parameters, the total cost of expanding the capacity of PSSs to meet the increasing demand can be further estimated. 



The topology and parameters of the Swansea North BSP (Bulk Supply Point) will be extracted from the NGED (National Grid Electricity Distribution) LTDS (Long Term Development Statement) 2023 for the case study. Based on this information, a simulation model of the Swansea North BSP will be built with MATPOWER. This model, combined with the projected electric demand at each PSS, will be used to perform power flow analysis to identify violations in bus voltages and line loading across the system. 



In the Consumer Transformation scenario, the net zero emissions target is achieved through a high level of electrification. Conversely, the System Transformation scenario features a lower level of electrification but higher engagement with hydrogen. The role of hydrogen in mitigating the impacts of electrification on regional distribution grids will be evaluated by comparing the outcomes in both scenarios. 



Summary of upcoming work

The study will be used to evaluate the effects of increasing electrification in South Wales on regional power grids and will explore hydrogen’s potential role in mitigating these impacts, based on real-life data from the National Grid Electricity Distribution and the Distribution Future Energy Scenarios.

Power flow tools will be employed in the evaluation to analyse substation capacity shortage, network operational constraints including voltage and line loading violations, and the economic implications of upgrading the existing system to meet future demand growth.

By Mela Bettega and Clara Crivellaro



As the world moves toward net-zero futures, the role of hydrogen in the energy transition is still being explored, with its long-term impact in different fields of application yet to be fully determined. However, ensuring that hydrogen integration is effective, just, and inclusive requires more than technological research and advancement. It demands meaningful engagement with diverse stakeholders, including energy citizens and consumers, as to ensure socially responsible trajectories of Hydrogen integration.  The need for, and importance of, public engagement is increasingly recognized at the policy level. The UK Government is set to release the first ever Public Participation Strategy on Net Zero in 2025 as recently announced by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DENZ). This strategy will define ways in which businesses and civil society can come together to inform policy-making. This will include specific mechanisms to engage local communities and more vulnerable groups, with a particular focus on people with disabilities. This reflects a growing recognition that inclusivity in decision-making is not only beneficial but essential achieve just and prosperous transitions that can work for everyone.



The Role of Stakeholder Engagement



Stakeholders’ engagement can often be viewed as a way to foster acceptance of new technological innovations. However, it holds far greater potential. An inclusive and place-based approach to engagement can effectively bring together diverse voices to articulate how potential impacts and risks might be ‘lived and felt’ in diverse communities and guide the co-development of pathways to ensure a fair distribution of benefits and burdens in transition processes. A just transition approach  to decarbonisation recognizes that achieving a low-carbon economy should go hand in hand with equitable participation and recognition of diverse expertise in decision-making. This means actively involving affected communities in decision-making, develop pathways to address potential socio-economic disruptions, and ensuring that hydrogen initiatives align with public values and broader sustainability and justice goals.

At HI-ACT, we are exploring how just transitions approaches can inform the design of digital tools to help foster and scale inclusive engagements and collaborations, and democratize discussions on the appropriate place of Hydrogen in ongoing energy transitions.



The Importance of Future Thinking and Future Literacy



Building capacities to engage with complex future scenarios is crucial for shaping just energy transitions. Future thinking and future literacy is the ability to consider possible futures to inform present actions and decisions. These can help people better prepare for change, foster resilience, and co-create new solutions. Future methodologies enable stakeholders to actively participate in envisioning and co-creating pathways for change. Yet, scenarios and traditional forecasting methods often require domain expertise and can present barriers to wider public participation. Furthermore, some forecasting methods that rely on quantitative data, while useful, can present limitations: extrapolating from past trends, they can reduce complexities characterising socio-technical systems.

To address these challenges, alternative approaches to foster inclusive and democratic engagements with futures have been developed. These approaches can unlock people’s imagination by acknowledging that multiple futures are possible and that these do not have to be strictly determined by current dominant techno-economic trajectories and actors.  Methodologies rooted in this approach can foster creativity, agency, and inclusivity in decision-making. For instance, methodologies such as “world-building” allows stakeholders to collaboratively construct detailed and immersive future scenarios, while “backcasting” enables them to define a desirable future and work backward to determine the necessary steps to achieve it. By integrating such participatory approaches, explorations of hydrogen integration in energy transitions can be articulated to reflect the needs, values and aspirations of a diverse range of stakeholders and communities.



Digital Democratic Innovations for Inclusive Future Thinking and Policy-Making



The rapid pace of change in the energy sector means that communities, businesses, and policymakers must work together to develop solutions that are both viable and equitable.

Digital platforms provide a unique opportunity to multiply this creative effort and scale face-to-face engagements traditionally used to engage communities and small stakeholders in deliberation processes. this can also widen participation beyond traditional players  that are typically called to inform decisions shaping important infrastructural changes.

Capabilities of digital tools and environments bring new opportunities to both scaffold conversations about Hydrogen integration in energy futures that may be difficult to achieve in a face-to-face setting. For instance, data visualisation techniques can be used to help participants engage with potential impacts and trade-offs stemming from  hydrogen production and use within a specific locality and socio-technical scenario.  Artificial Intelligence (AI) can also be leveraged to synthesize online discussions and highlight key challenges and concerns to inform decision-making.

Digital engagements tools have already been used in a variety of contexts to democratise decision-making and policy and build future literacy. These digital tools and platforms have enabled inclusive engagements in democratic debate in a variety of ways:






These platforms demonstrate how digital tools can be leveraged to scale participatory and inclusive policymaking, gathering distributed insights and perspectives and improving transparency.

At HI-ACT, we are building on the legacy of these digital democratic innovations to ensure that the perspectives of a wider range of stakeholders can be included to develop place-responsive policy and responsible infrastructural investments. We believe such digital tools can be integrated and used in Local Area Energy Plans (LAEP) where stakeholders input can transparently inform decarbonation actions and efforts.



Challenges and Considerations

Despite the opportunities of digital engagements, challenges remain. The existence of a digital platform does not guarantee equity in participation. Several broader factors must be considered to ensure meaningful digital engagements.




In our current work we have identified further challenges and opportunities that are specific to the topic of Hydrogen and that must be considered to enable constructive digital engagements.



Hydrogen’s relevance in the short and long-term. Hydrogen’s integration in energy systems requires major investments and remains less developed and established compared to other low carbon energy sources. As a result, some stakeholders may not perceive it as relevant to their current domain-specific transitions practices and near-future plans. This is compounded by hydrogen periodically gaining (and loosing) public attention. These factors may make it difficult to engage stakeholders, especially in the absence of imminent use or adoption in a specific locale and domain.



Addressing these issues requires appropriate crafting of narratives framing digital engagements to explore socio-economic and ecological impacts, where Hydrogen might be part of a suite of possible technologies for decarbonisation; or where engaging with the complexity of Hydrogen integration in future energy system might present an opportunity to re-think for example policies, the role of workers, the (re)distribution of burdens in transitions processes.



Still, discussions on hydrogen’s role in energy transition may fail to directly address immediate concerns of some stakeholders’ groups, such as people living in fuel-poor households. In such cases, it is critical to carefully consider the ethical implications of eliciting participation from vulnerable populations by considering benefits and burdens that may stem from engagements outweigh the risks; framing engagement around their most pressing concerns; or seek to engage third-sector organizations able to represent the concerns of fuel-poor households.



Addressing Knowledge Gaps. Not all stakeholders hold the same level of knowledge and understanding of energy infrastructure and hydrogen. Some may also have misconceptions about hydrogen’s safety and the variety of processes at play for its production.  This can create power imbalances – making it more difficult for non-domain experts to voice their concerns and enter in constructive dialogue. To facilitate meaningful discussion, it is crucial to establish a shared baseline of knowledge. This can be achieved through the production and incorporation of concise and accessible educational materials within digital platforms used for digital engagements.



Addressing these concerns requires thoughtful design that can also foster critical interpretation of data stemming from engagements. Policymakers and researchers must account for blind spots and biases that may arise in digital discussions.



Conclusion



Engaging with the question of whether Hydrogen should propel our energy transition and how, is a collective endeavour that necessitates broad participation and inclusive decision-making. Through HI-ACT’s research, we are designing and developing novel methods and digital tools to enable more participatory, equitable, and inclusive discussions on pathways to net-zero. By leveraging future methods and digital democratic innovations, we can work towards creating the conditions for a more democratic and just transition for all.

Authors: Khalid Alanazi, Shivika Mittal, Adam Hawkes, Nilay Shah



As the world races towards net-zero emissions, renewable hydrogen is emerging as a critical energy carrier to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like steel, heavy transportation, and chemicals. However, not all regions have equal access to low-cost renewable energy for hydrogen production. This raises a key question: Should countries prioritize self-sufficiency in hydrogen production possibly at a higher cost, or would international trade create a more efficient and economically beneficial global hydrogen market?

Our latest research, published as an open-access paper in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, explores this question through a novel market equilibrium model that simulates global hydrogen trade scenarios for 2050. By analysing hydrogen supply, demand, and trade flows under different policy constraints, we uncover key insights that could shape the future of renewable hydrogen markets.



Key Findings

  1. 1. Hydrogen Demand and Trade Potential In a scenario where hydrogen trade is unrestricted, global hydrogen demand could reach 234 Mt by 2050, with 31% of it met through international trade. This aligns with estimates from organizations like the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which predicts that around 25% of global hydrogen production could be traded across borders.
  2. 2. Major Hydrogen Trade Routes Our research identifies three dominant trade routes:
  3. North Africa to Europe (via pipelines and liquefied hydrogen shipping)
  4. The Middle East to Developing Asia (using liquefied hydrogen)
  5. South America to Japan and South Korea (predominantly via ammonia shipping)



These trade flows highlight the potential for hydrogen-exporting countries with abundant renewable resources—such as Morocco, Chile, and Argentina—to supply hydrogen to energy-importing nations with high demand but limited production capacity.

See figure 1 (bottom of blog)



3. Economic and Market Implications



In the unrestricted trade scenario, consumer benefits outweigh producer benefits, indicating that hydrogen trade leads to lower prices for consumers.



However, a regional independence scenario—where countries prioritize domestic hydrogen production—results in supply shortages in regions like Japan and South Korea, and a 12.7% reduction in global hydrogen demand.



Pipeline transport dominates regional markets, while shipping (liquefied hydrogen and ammonia) plays an important role in long-distance trade.

See Figure 2 (bottom of blog)



4. Investment Needs for a Global Hydrogen Economy Developing a global hydrogen trade network requires an estimated $6.8 trillion in cumulative investments by 2050. The largest share (57%) will go toward hydrogen production, while shipping infrastructure alone would require $1.6 trillion to enable long-distance trade.

See figure 3 (bottom of blog)


What This Means for Policymakers and Investors

For Investors: Hydrogen trade represents a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity, with significant potential in renewable energy projects, electrolysis technology, and transport infrastructure.

For Exporting Countries: Countries rich in renewable resources can gain significant economic benefits by positioning themselves as hydrogen exporters. Policies that support infrastructure development, such as hydrogen ports and pipelines, will be key in enabling this.

For Importing Countries: Ensuring secure and cost-effective hydrogen imports will require strategic trade agreements and investment in shipping and conversion technologies.





Conclusion: A New Era for Energy Trade?

Our findings suggest that international hydrogen trade can unlock major economic benefits, enhance energy security, and accelerate decarbonization efforts. However, achieving this requires coordinated policy efforts, infrastructure investments, and market mechanisms that ensure competitive pricing.

To explore the full details of our research and methodology, check out the published paper here: Renewable hydrogen trade in a global decarbonised energy system



Authors: Khalid Alanazi, Shivika Mittal, Adam Hawkes, Nilay Shah

Reference:

[1] Alanazi, K., Mittal, S., Hawkes, A., & Shah, N. (2025). Renewable hydrogen trade in a global decarbonised energy system. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 101, 712–730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.12.452

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

The Joint Early Career Researcher (ECR) Workshop on Energy Networks Decarbonisation and Hydrogen Integration took place on 17th December 2024 at the University of Birmingham, bringing together researchers from HI-ACT and Supergen Energy Networks Impact Hub. This workshop provided an excellent opportunity for early-career researchers to collaborate, exchange ideas, and explore key challenges in the integration of hydrogen within energy networks to support the net-zero transition.

The event began with a welcome and introduction from Professor Aoife Foley, who stepped in for Professor Sara Walker, the Lead Principal Investigator of HI-ACT. The workshop was made possible through the efforts of several key organisers, including Dr Dlzar Al Kez, Sian Allister, Sophia Forster, Dr Gaurav Sen, Dan Massey, and Dr Shuai Yao, all of whom played essential roles in facilitating the day’s discussions. The session attracted a diverse group of participants, as reflected in the event photograph, which captures the wide-ranging expertise and backgrounds of attendees.


The workshop was structured to provide a combination of presentations, research pitches, and interactive group discussions. Following the opening remarks, the morning session featured keynote presentations that examined the regulatory, economic, and technical aspects of integrating hydrogen into energy networks. These talks set the stage for deeper discussions on the barriers and opportunities associated with hydrogen deployment. A quick-fire research pitch session then allowed early-career researchers to present their work, outline their key strengths, and highlight areas for potential collaboration.

During the afternoon session, a facilitated group discussion encouraged participants to engage with six key research themes, identified through a review of recent publications and proposals from both HI-ACT and Supergen. These themes covered modelling, decision-making, risk and resilience, markets and regulation, policy and societal perspectives, and data and AI-based applications. Using a Mentimeter live polling session, attendees selected the topics that resonated most with their research interests before breaking into groups to explore these challenges in greater depth. Each group then worked together to identify key research gaps and propose possible solutions to advance knowledge in hydrogen integration and energy networks. The discussions were highly collaborative, drawing on expertise from multiple disciplines and perspectives.

One of the key takeaways from the workshop was the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the complex challenges of hydrogen adoption. Many of the research gaps identified by participants related to the need for more integrated approaches that combine technical, economic, and policy insights. The discussions also highlighted the role of data analytics, AI-driven solutions, and enhanced modelling techniques in supporting more effective decision-making in hydrogen infrastructure planning. Another recurring theme was the need for stronger engagement with stakeholders, policymakers, and industry partners to ensure that research aligns with real-world challenges and opportunities.

The event concluded with group presentations summarising the key findings from each discussion, followed by reflections on the next steps for collaboration and research development. The day’s discussions reinforced the strong momentum within the hydrogen research community and underscored the importance of continuing to provide platforms for early-career researchers to connect and develop their work.

Looking ahead, this workshop marked the beginning of a broader programme of ECR engagement activities within HI-ACT. Plans are now in place for the next ECR event, scheduled for late February 2025, which will be held online via Teams. This upcoming session will focus on research networking and collaboration, providing another opportunity for early-career researchers to engage with peers and align their work with HI-ACT’s long-term goals. Future events will also include training workshops, career development sessions, and interdisciplinary research showcases, designed to equip ECRs with the skills and connections needed to make meaningful contributions to the hydrogen and energy networks research landscape.

The Joint ECR Workshop in December 2024 was an important step in building a more connected and collaborative research community focused on hydrogen integration. The success of the event demonstrated the enthusiasm and commitment of early-career researchers to tackling the challenges of decarbonisation. As plans for future events continue to develop, the focus remains on strengthening research collaborations and ensuring that the work being done contributes to real-world energy transitions.

HI-ACT are celebrating Hyrogen week.

Hydrogen Week brings together stakeholders from across the UK to celebrate and promote the role of hydrogen in reaching net zero.

A week for innovation, climate consciousness and those united in the delivery of clean growth, Hydrogen Week has the potential to be the catalyst for further hydrogen production and facilitate industrial decarbonisation.

This will take place from the 24th of February to the 2nd of March, during this time we will be sharing blogs from some of our brilliant team, covering an array of different issues and information which are part of our ongoing research.

To explore more, visit https://hydrogenweek.co.uk/

A brilliant blog from one of our researchers, Gareth Thomas who recently contributed to a blog with colleagues from our partner hub UK HyRES and CSIRO highlighting and giving an introduction into to social science work being done on hydrogen.

Beyond Market Research: How the social sciences can deepen our understanding of societal responses to decarbonisation and the introduction of hydrogen technologies | UK-HyRES