There is increasing and widespread consensus that hydrogen will play a key part on the roadmap towards net zero transportation, in particular in the hard to decarbonise sectors such as heavy-duty vehicles, aviation, marine and off-highway. The expertise and technology at IAAPS will be instrumental in developing the skills and opportunities for a new hydrogen-based supply-chain and infrastructure, including production, storage, end use application as well as on wider policy level.
Our hydrogen research will enable us to test, develop and enhance hydrogen propulsion fuel systems which will be vital in building public trust and acceptance of the technology and therefore facilitating a more rapid implementation of hydrogen powered transport solutions.
IAAPS' new green hydrogen manufacturing capability, set to become operational in spring 2023, is the first of its kind in the South West of England. It will form the basis of a regional renewable transport energy research hub, working with over 30 cross-sector partners to stimulate green growth in the region and to provide an important link in the national H2 research infrastructure.
The installation of the hydrogen facility has been funded by a £2.5m grant by Research England’s UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) as part of its net zero pilot funding scheme.
The move will not only decarbonise the energy used on the site by reducing the whole building carbon footprint, but it will also support vital research and development into sustainable propulsion technologies and the use of hydrogen as an alternative green energy to achieve net zero targets.
The project will see the installation of solar (Photovoltaics - PV) electricity generation on the roof of the state-of-the-art, purpose-built IAAPS building. The bulk of the energy generated will be used to power a H2 electrolyser plant, which will produce green H2. The plant and respective storage will be sized to allow operation of a 400kW propulsion research facility.