HI‑ACT recently joined colleagues in Sheffield for a jointly hosted Nuclear Enabled Hydrogen Workshop, delivered in partnership with UK‑HyRES: Hub for Research Challenges in Hydrogen and Alternative Liquid Fuels.
The workshop brought together leading voices from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies to engage in open, constructive discussion around one of the sector’s most complex challenges: how nuclear‑enabled hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels can be deployed at scale, and the barriers that must be addressed to make this possible.
Throughout the day, participants explored the technical, regulatory, and commercial considerations shaping this emerging area, alongside the opportunities that arise from coordinated, whole‑systems thinking.
For HI‑ACT, the workshop marked an important step in deepening cross‑programme collaboration and strengthening the evidence base needed to accelerate clean energy transitions.
We extend our thanks to everyone who contributed their insight and expertise. Further outcomes from the workshop will be shared as this work continues to progress.
Celebrating Innovation, Collaboration, and Global Impact
HI-ACT is delighted to announce the successful projects awarded through Call 2 of both the New and Expanding Areas Flex Fund and the Global Impact Flex Fund. These awards recognise outstanding research leadership, bold ideas, and collaborative ambition across the hydrogen and net-zero energy landscape. Congratulations to all successful applicants.
New and Expanding Areas Flex Fund
This fund supports researchers and industry partners to co-create cutting‑edge research exploring the role of hydrogen in local and regional net‑zero energy transitions.
A significant portion of the fund is dedicated to Early Career Researcher (ECR) leadership, and we are proud that three of the four awarded projects are led by ECRs.
Applications for this call were heavily oversubscribed, reflecting the strength and creativity of the UK hydrogen research community. Competition was exceptionally high.
Awarded Projects
• Dr Saeed Harati (ECR), University of Birmingham H2 PlaNet: Hydrogen and Hydrology Planning for Net Zero Energy Transitions
• Dr Shadab Alam (ECR), NZIIC, Teesside University Nuclear Enabled Hydrogen and Direct Air Capture for Sustainable Aviation Fuel: A TEA LCA Assessment
• Dr Weiqi Hua (ECR), University of Birmingham WHISPER: Whole System Hydrogen Integration in Supporting Place‑Based Equitable Net Zero Transition
• Dr Alok Kumar, Brunel University London Contribution of Hydrogen to Energy Transition of Urban Industrial Clusters (CHETUIC)
Global Impact Flex Fund
The Global Impact Flex Fund enables international visits, researcher exchanges, and short-term collaborations that strengthen HI-ACT’s global visibility and amplify the international reach of our research.
Awarded Projects
• Dr Shahab Dehghan, Newcastle University Resilient Integration of Green Hydrogen into Net Zero Energy Systems under Transient Security Limits: A UK–Australia Collaboration (RIGHT UKAU)
• Dr Sube Singh, WMG, University of Warwick Global Collaboration for Hydrogen Supply Chain Readiness, Resilience, and System Integration
• Dr Amir Jahanbakhsh, Heriot-Watt University Challenges with Hydrogen Storage in Underground Porous Media: Microbial Consumption and Residual Trappings
Earlier in March, HI‑ACT represented the programme at major national events and highlighting the growing impact of our work across the UK hydrogen landscape.
Showcasing HI-ACT at the ECR Net Zero Conference
The week began in Birmingham at the ECR Net Zero Conference, where HI‑ACT had a strong and visible presence.
Professor Sara Walker opened the event with an inspiring keynote that set the tone for the day, Dr Saeed Harati chaired a lively panel on hydrogen integration, bringing together diverse perspectives from across the sector. Meanwhile, Zahra Kheirkhah Ravandi presented her poster on the operational implications of transporting hydrogen via high‑pressure gas networks.
We were also delighted to have Sian Allister and Sophia Forster from our Professional Services team on site, ensuring HI‑ACT’s work was communicated with clarity, accuracy, and professionalism. Sube Singh joined the event too, contributing to the HI‑ACT presence and preparing for his own three‑minute pitch session the following day.
The conference continued with training sessions, sector updates, and career‑focused discussions, making it a rich and rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Engaging the Sector at the Hydrogen UK Conference and Awards
At the same time, HI‑ACT was represented at the Hydrogen UK Conference and Awards, where Dewan Hafiz Nabil, Sube Singh, and Sophia Forster spent two days connecting with organisations shaping the UK’s hydrogen future. The team shared insights from across the programme and strengthened relationships with partners and collaborators from across the sector.
HI‑ACT was also shortlisted for two major awards:
- Hydrogen Person of the Year – Professor Sara Walker
- Best Thought Leadership – HI‑ACT Programme
Although we did not take home an award this year, being recognised alongside such strong sector leaders was an honour in itself. The nominations reflect the ambition, influence, and collaborative spirit that define HI‑ACT’s work. We are incredibly proud of the team who represented us on the night: Sara Walker, Karen Henwood, Sube Singh, Jianzhong Wu, and Dawei Wu.
A Week That Reflects HI‑ACT’s Growing Momentum
This period of activity highlights the increasing visibility and impact of HI‑ACT across the UK hydrogen research community. From early‑career engagement and sector leadership to national recognition, the team has demonstrated the strength, ambition, and collaborative energy driving the programme forward.
We are pleased to highlight the contribution of Prof Sara Walker, HI‑ACT Director, to recent media coverage of a landmark £50 million green hydrogen project planned for Milford Haven. The development is one of the first to progress through the UK Government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR) and is expected to begin construction later this year.
The project represents a significant step forward for the UK’s hydrogen economy, aiming to produce 2,000 tonnes of low‑carbon hydrogen annually and deliver more than 15,000 tonnes of CO₂e savings each year. Powered primarily by UK wind energy, the facility will support both regional decarbonisation and national energy security.
Speaking to the press, Prof Walker emphasised the critical role of green hydrogen in sectors where electrification alone cannot meet industrial heat requirements:
“By making hydrogen from green electricity, we’re using cleaner hydrogen, and supporting industries like steel, ceramics and glass to transition away from natural gas. These things need really high temperatures, and if you did it through only electricity it would be quite difficult to get to the temperatures that you need.”
Project Overview
£50 million investment backed through HAR
- 60 construction jobs and 10 permanent roles
- 2,000 tonnes of low‑carbon hydrogen produced annually
- Over 15,000 tonnes CO₂e savings projected each year
- Powered by UK renewables, primarily wind
This project demonstrates the growing momentum behind hydrogen as a key enabler of the UK’s net‑zero transition — and we are proud to see HI‑ACT expertise informing the national conversation.
Read the full article here: Construction on Milford Haven hydrogen production plant to begin – BBC News
We are delighted to announce that HI‑ACT has been shortlisted for two Hydrogen UK Awards, recognising our continued commitment to leadership, innovation, and impact within the UK hydrogen sector.
Presented annually at the Hydrogen UK Annual Conference & Awards, these prestigious awards spotlight the individuals and organisations driving progress across the hydrogen economy from technological advancement and infrastructure development to transport, industrial applications, and financial leadership that accelerates clean‑energy growth.
What the Awards Celebrate
The Hydrogen UK Awards recognise those who are shaping the future of hydrogen through:
Thought leadership that helps transform the UK’s clean‑energy landscape
Award Nomination: Hydrogen Person of the Year 2026
Breakthroughs in hydrogen technologies and infrastructure
Leadership in transport and industrial applications
Strategic insight and financing that enables sector‑wide scale‑up
We are incredibly proud to share that HI‑ACT Director, Sara Walker, has been shortlisted for Hydrogen Person of the Year 2026.
This award celebrates exceptional leadership and recognises individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the growth and sustainability of the hydrogen sector. Sara’s nomination reflects her outstanding leadership, influence, and tireless commitment to advancing hydrogen policy, innovation, and collaboration across the UK.
Award Nomination: Best Thought Leadership
HI‑ACT has also been shortlisted for Best Thought Leadership, an award recognising organisations that are advancing the hydrogen knowledge base and delivering insight that supports the industry’s development and scale‑up.
The judging panel highlighted HI‑ACT’s ambition, depth of insight, and strong commitment to accelerating progress across this critical sector, reinforcing our role as a trusted voice shaping the future of hydrogen in the UK.
A Shared Achievement
We are honoured to be recognised alongside so many inspiring organisations and individuals who are helping to build a resilient, low‑carbon energy future. These nominations are a testament to the dedication and expertise of everyone involved in HI‑ACT’s work, and a special congratulations goes to Sara Walker for this outstanding personal achievement.
We look forward to continuing our work to support innovation, collaboration, and evidence‑led progress across the UK hydrogen economy.
We are delighted to share that Professor Sara Walker, Director of HI-ACT, delivered a keynote address at the 17th International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE2025), held from 8–12 December at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.
Under the theme “Nurturing Sustainable Energy Innovations,” ICAE2025 brought together global experts, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore solutions for sustainable energy transitions and carbon neutrality. Professor Walker’s keynote focused on the importance of whole energy systems thinking and collaborative innovation in accelerating progress toward a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
The conference featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, technical sessions, and workshops covering topics such as renewable energy technologies, energy storage, hydrogen systems, and sustainability strategies. It served as a vital platform for sharing knowledge and fostering partnerships that will shape the next generation of energy solutions.
We extend our thanks to the ICAE organizers for hosting such an impactful event and look forward to continuing the conversation on driving sustainable energy innovation.
HI-ACT is looking forward to co-hosting the first APEN-DISCO workshop, along with the Applied Energy Journal, Cardiff University and in collaboration with our sister hub UK-HyRES. This three-day workshop will bring together researchers, industry and policy communities and aims to serve as a globally leading forum to advance the field of hydrogen energy system integration. Keynote speakers include:
- Prof. John Loughhead, RAEng and CAE Fellow, former UK Chief Scientific Adviser on Energy
- Prof. Xianguo Li, Fellow of Canadian and Engineering Institutes, Editor-in-Chief of IJGE and Frontiers in Thermal Engineering
- Prof. Sally Brooker, Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
- Mr. Martin van Agteren, Principal Asset Manager, Gasunie
- Mr. Daniel Schwappach, Head of Energy Enterprise Solutions, Siemens Energy (MEA)
As the world strives to meet the shared Net Zero targets, while providing sustainable, reliable and affordable energy access for all, there is a critical need for timely and collaborative research and publication of new energy solutions. APEN-Disco is a new platform to serve the APEN research community, leading the research advancement in applied energy, and facilitating high-impact publications on Applied Energy
Registration for this event is now open. Please check the website APEN-Disco – Applied Energy Discovery Workshops for more information.
On the 25th March 2025, HI-ACT hosted its first of a new webinar series on hydrogen- related topics delivered by world-class academics and industry practitioners.
The webinar was delivered by Alok Choudhary and Hamed Kalantari from the University of Warwick, titled ‘Hydrogen Supply Chain: The UK’s Capabilities, Readiness, and Strategic Challenges,‘ inspired by their research on hydrogen supply chain availability analysis. This session explored how the UK strives toward Net-Zero targets through hydrogen initiatives by assessing its position in the hydrogen economy and supply chain availability throughout the country. Through their research, which merges thorough analysis with industry insights, they capture the full scope of UK supply chain capabilities and barriers while preparing for discussions about advancing this essential energy transition.
In this webinar, they explore the capabilities of the UK hydrogen supply chain from hydrogen production, storage & distribution, and end-use applications and assess the availability of the hydrogen supply chain. Finally, they will examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing the UK hydrogen supply chain.
Speaker Bio: Prof Alok Choudhary,
Dr. Alok Choudhary is a Professor of Supply Chain Management and Head of the Supply Chain Research Group at WMG, University of Warwick. He is also the co-founder and lead of the JLR-WMG Supply Chain Innovation Hub, a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover.
Alok’s research focuses on advancing responsible, secure, and resilient supply chains to address sustainability challenges and safeguard critical industries. His work integrates industry-driven, interdisciplinary approaches to promote responsible supply chains through Net Zero, circular economy, and ESG compliance frameworks; enhance security and resilience via supply chain mapping, risk mitigation, and UK-centric supply strategies; leverage AI/ML and operational research for sustainability and transparency.
A globally recognized thought leader in supply chain management, he drives transformative change across industries and policy landscapes through cutting-edge research and high-impact industry collaborations focused on supply chain resilience, digital transformation, and sustainability. With an interdisciplinary research portfolio exceeding £30 million in funded projects, Dr. Choudhary has built strategic partnerships with leading UK universities, policymakers, and industry leaders.
A trusted advisor to businesses and policymakers, Dr. Choudhary’s research has driven measurable improvements across global manufacturing organizations, while his executive education programs have helped SMEs enhance sustainability, productivity, and risk management.
A sought-after keynote speaker and panel chair at world-leading forums, he continues to shape industry best practices and global policy frameworks, future proofing the supply chain and making it more resilient, intelligent, and sustainable for the future.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Hamed Kalantari, expertise include; supply chain network design, digital logistics, and freight transport. Recent research; Intelligent last-mile delivery systems, Predicting the drivers’ behaviour in freight road transport, and A FinTech-Logistic system in freight road transports.
To view the webinar please follow this link- HI ACT Webinar: Hydrogen Supply Chain – The UK’s Capabilities, Readiness, and Strategic Challenges – YouTube