UK consortium to develop hydrogen storage prototyping hub

The proposed hub brings together the expertise of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Oxford Advanced Surfaces, Xcience and SET Europe – with the aim of developing improved hydrogen storage solutions for the transportation sectors as they journey towards zero emissions.

The research undertaken by the consortium, which has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to progress the hub, has been supported by the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF).

The HSPH will be an independent, open-access resource for innovators and industrial end-users to accelerate the design and manufacture of prototype hydrogen storage vessels. It is actively seeking collaboration opportunities and is exploring the development of an industrial steering board comprising companies involved in the wider hydrogen landscape.

Dr Martin Kemp, technical director of Xcience who is spearheading the initiative, said: “We believe that improved mobile storage is a crucial technology area to enable future hydrogen vehicles, and access to a state-of-the-art prototyping service will help bring the latest storage technology to vehicle design.”

Stuart Dawson, chief engineer for hydrogen at the University of Sheffield AMRC, welcomed the agreement, adding: “Hydrogen propulsion, whether it’s performed via fuel cells or combustion, has an essential role to play in the decarbonisation of transport, particularly for heavier, longer range and higher duty cycle applications.

“The AMRC is delighted to be part of the HSPH consortium where we can contribute our composites manufacturing expertise towards developing safe, lightweight, conformal and affordable hydrogen storage tanks to help accelerate the adoption of zero emission hydrogen propulsion systems.”

The hub is developing an operational model that will provide an independent, confidential service to meet the needs of industry, and welcomes expressions of interest from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the manufacturing supply chain and organisations involved in the wider hydrogen and transportation sectors.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/11012022/uk-consortium-to-develop-hydrogen-storage-prototyping-hub/