Delivering a hydrogen-powered energy transition isn’t just about breakthrough technologies or about system-level planning in isolation. It’s about how the two evolve together.
UK-HyRES and HI-ACT are both EPSRC-funded hydrogen research hubs. At first glance, they may seem similar, but their roles are deliberately distinct. UK-HyRES focuses on low technology readiness level, fundamental research, while HI-ACT undertakes research which can accelerate progress in hydrogen systems integration.
Positioned at opposite ends of the hydrogen spectrum, the two hubs are nonetheless strategically aligned. They work in close partnership to ensure that hydrogen innovation doesn’t just advance but works in the real world.
Here, the head of each hub, Professor Chris Brace, Director and Principal Investigator of UK-HyRES and Professor Sara Walker, Director and Principal Investigator of HI-ACT, share their visions for the alignment of the two hubs and
Sara began the conversation to clarify where both hubs sit in the hydrogen value chain: “HI-ACT looks at the overall energy system, often from a national or international, top-down perspective. UK-HyRES, by contrast, works at the device level, more bottom-up. But we meet at the interface: what functionality devices offer to the system, and what the system needs from those devices.”
A two-way feedback loop
At the heart of the collaboration is a simple but powerful idea: hydrogen innovation must be bidirectional. Advances in technology shape what’s possible at system level. At the same time, system-level challenges define what technologies are actually needed.
Chris expands on this, highlighting both the opportunity, and the complexity, of working across scales: “The term ‘system’ is often used in different ways, which can lead to confusion. At one level, it refers to specific engineering elements, like a manufacturing plant, an electrolyser, or a vehicle. At another, it describes the larger networks these elements form, such as a national energy system or transport network. Being clear about these definitions is important, especially when working across disciplines”.
He continues by drawing the connection between these layers: “What becomes clear is that these layers are closely interconnected. Improvements at the device or engineering level, like increasing the efficiency of electrolysers, can have significant impacts on the performance of the wider energy system. At the same time, challenges identified at the national or network level can highlight where breakthroughs are needed in materials, components, or technologies”.
This interplay is where progress happens: “Progress depends on strengthening this two-way relationship. Advances at the small scale can unlock system-wide benefits, while large-scale challenges can guide and motivate fundamental research. This kind of bidirectional thinking is essential for driving innovation in complex energy systems.”
Why collaboration is essential
The energy transition is only as strong as its weakest link. From materials and devices, through infrastructure and systems, to policy, safety, and public acceptance, each layer must work together.
This is why UK-HyRES also focuses on four cross-cutting themes, economics, environment, society, and safety. These areas move beyond device-level research to explore the conditions needed for hydrogen technologies to be adopted at scale, from cost and infrastructure to environmental impact, public trust, and risk. This work provides a natural bridge to HI-ACT’s system-level perspective, where these factors are considered within the context of a fully integrated energy system.
Chris is clear about what’s at stake: “Unless you’re pushing across the full picture, you’re not going to achieve the energy transition we’d like to see. Any weak point in that chain will get in the way of adoption.”
This is why UK-HyRES and HI-ACT are deliberately aligned, not just in ambition, but in structure. The two hubs share a Strategic Advisory Board, bringing together expertise from industry, regulation, and energy systems. This group doesn’t just review progress; it helps shape what comes next.
Sara explains how this strengthens their impact: “We’re collectively thinking about the next steps, not just in research, but in policy and deployment, because hydrogen isn’t a one-off transition. It requires a coordinated national approach. The joint advisory board also act as ambassadors for both hubs, amplifying news and initiatives through their own channels.”
Turning insight into opportunity
While still early in their programmes, the hubs are already building the foundations for joint impact.
One emerging area is nuclear-enabled hydrogen production, exploring how nuclear energy can support more efficient hydrogen generation.
Sara highlights the current gap: “While there are already system-level assessments of using nuclear power for hydrogen production, they often don’t fully reflect future technology breakthroughs. At the same time, those breakthroughs need clear direction, driven by national priorities and opportunities.”
Bridging that gap requires closer integration. Chris builds on this: “Without this integration, solutions remain simplistic, such as using nuclear electricity solely for electrolysis. A more joined-up approach, like combining electricity with waste heat from nuclear plants, could significantly improve efficiency. Realising this potential depends on close collaboration between nuclear and hydrogen experts to design more effective, interconnected systems.”
Defining success
For both hubs, success goes beyond academic outputs.
Sara outlines what she would like to see come out of an effective collaboration between the two hubs: “Success would mean a policy, regulatory, and industrial landscape that fully recognises hydrogen’s role in the energy transition, supported by high-quality research that provides a strong evidence base for decision-making.”
Chris adds a complimentary perspective: “Just as importantly, I would like to see clear alignment between national priorities and technological innovation: tangible examples where system-level needs and emerging technologies actively reinforce one another, turning opportunity into real-world progress”.
Navigating the unknowns
Hydrogen’s potential is clear, but significant uncertainties remain.
Sara points to the global context: “Regardless of geopolitics, energy security and resilience of energy systems is going to continue to be high on the agenda. We need to ensure we’re not replacing one supply chain weakness with another, and that we’re thinking about hydrogen supply chains just as carefully as we do for oil and gas today.”
At the same time, technological and system challenges must be addressed in parallel. Chris explains: “Can solutions meet the required performance, cost, and timescales? Can infrastructure roll out quickly enough to support adoption? There’s uncertainty on both sides, technological readiness and system readiness, and both have to progress together.”
He illustrates this with a practical example:
“Take hydrogen flight. There’s an enormous amount of work to be done before we see passenger aircraft powered by hydrogen. We’re looking at a 10-year horizon, and even then, questions remain around affordability and infrastructure. The challenges are evenly split between technology and system readiness.”
Investing in the next generation
Beyond research and systems, both hubs share another priority: people.
From early career researchers to established leaders, building a connected, collaborative community is essential for long-term impact.
Sara emphasises the importance of this investment: “We’re supporting the people who will deliver this transition over the next 30–40 years. It’s about helping them understand not just what they’re researching, but why it matters in the bigger picture.”
A model for the future
UK-HyRES and HI-ACT are not just working alongside each other, they are testing a new way of doing research.
One where:
- Discovery and deployment are co-designed
- Technology and systems evolve together
- And collaboration spans the full hydrogen value chain
Each hub has a distinct role. But their real strength lies in the connection between them, because that interface is where meaningful progress happens.
Because in the end, the energy transition won’t be delivered by breakthroughs alone. It will be delivered by how well those breakthroughs fit into the systems that power our world.
That’s the shared space where UK-HyRES and HI-ACT operate.
HI‑ACT had a highly successful presence at All‑Energy 2026 in Glasgow recently, joining partners, industry leaders and colleagues from across the clean energy sector to showcase our whole‑systems hydrogen research.
Throughout the day, the HI‑ACT team engaged with delegates exploring the future of the UK’s energy transition. Our dedicated HI‑ACT spotlight session drew strong interest, with researchers sharing insights, discussing emerging findings and connecting with organisations keen to collaborate on hydrogen integration across the energy system.
The event provided an excellent platform to strengthen partnerships, highlight the breadth of HI‑ACT’s research programme and contribute to national conversations on accelerating progress towards net zero.
We extend our thanks to everyone who attended the session, visited us during the event and helped make All‑Energy 2026 such a productive and energising day for the programme.
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.
HI‑ACT was pleased to take part in the Cadent Global Technology Conference in London this week, joining industry and academic leaders for two days of discussion on the future of clean energy innovation. As an event sponsor, the Hub played an active role in the programme, contributing insights on how whole‑systems thinking can support the UK’s transition to a hydrogen‑enabled energy system.
Representing HI‑ACT, Professor David Flynn delivered a session exploring our whole‑systems approach to hydrogen integration. He outlined how the Hub rationalises energy system options and demonstrated our methodology through a practical, real‑world example. The session offered a clear view of how HI‑ACT’s research is helping shape decision‑making across the sector and showcased the collaborative work taking place across the programme.
The conference brought together colleagues from across industry and academia, creating a valuable space to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and ensure HI‑ACT remains visible in key national and international conversations on hydrogen and energy systems.
The HI‑ACT Professional Services team came together on 13 April for a focused and highly productive Away Day, held in the King George VI Building at Newcastle University. The session was designed to support two core priorities for the programme: enhancing the visibility and accessibility of HI‑ACT’s research outputs, and reviewing the overarching Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that guide progress across the project.
A major focus of the day was a comprehensive review of the HI‑ACT website. The team examined how effectively the site showcases research findings and how easy it is for stakeholders – including funders, policy makers, partners, industry, and the wider research community to locate and engage with HI‑ACT’s outputs. This work will help ensure that dissemination is clear, intuitive, and aligned with the needs of those who rely on HI‑ACT’s evidence and insights.
Alongside the website review, the team revisited the full set of HI‑ACT Key Performance Indicators, considering both the programme‑wide measures and those specific to Professional Services. This provided an opportunity to reflect on progress to date and refine what meaningful, achievable indicators should look like for the remainder of the project.
It was great to have Abbie Banner, Sophia Forster, Dr Claire Brewis, Sian Allister, and Natalia Pynirtzi together in person, each contributing to a constructive and forward‑looking discussion.
With clear actions now in place, the team heads into a busy and purposeful period as we continue strengthening HI‑ACT’s digital presence and performance framework.
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
This webinar explores how the UK can strategically plan £80–150 billion of hydrogen infrastructure investment as it accelerates toward its 2050 net‑zero target. Using cutting‑edge game theory, the session examines three UK case studies comparing competitive market approaches with cooperative planning frameworks.
The presenters demonstrate how planning choices can significantly influence both cost and emissions outcomes, particularly for hydrogen‑intensive pathways. The webinar also introduces a Shapley‑value‑based methodology for identifying which technologies merit policy support and the level of support required. Practical policy recommendations are shared, including hybrid market structures, coordination platforms for industrial clusters, and adaptive support mechanisms.
Presenters:
- Dr. Adib Allahham, Assistant Professor in Smart Energy Systems, Northumbria University
- Dr. Mohamed Abuella, Research Fellow in Energy Systems, Northumbria University
You can view this webinar here Webinar -Strategic Investment Planning for Hydrogen Infrastructure in the UK Game Theory Insights
HI‑ACT is delighted to share that Natalia Zografou‑Barredo, one of our Postdoctoral Research Associates and a former HI‑ACT secondee, has been selected as a finalist in the Engineering category at STEM for Britain 2026.
STEM for Britain is a long‑established scientific poster competition and exhibition held annually in the Houses of Parliament. Organised by the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee and chaired by George Freeman FRSA MP, the event has, since 1997, provided parliamentarians with a unique opportunity to engage directly with outstanding research being carried out by early‑career scientists, engineers and mathematicians across the UK.
The competition recognises excellence in communicating complex, high‑level research to a lay audience. Prizes are awarded across five disciplines, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematical Sciences and Physics with the prestigious Westminster Medal presented to the overall winner in memory of Dr Eric Wharton, who played a pivotal role in establishing the event.
Natalia will be presenting a poster based on the research she undertook during her HI‑ACT secondment, showcasing this work in the House of Commons on 17 March 2026.
HI‑ACT is incredibly proud to see Natalia’s work recognised on a national stage and congratulates her on this significant achievement.
