Novel production of renewable hydrogen from animal and human waste

The development and upscaling of renewable hydrogen sources are a prerequisite if the UK is to effectively

help solve the energy ‘trilemma’ of reducing emissions from electricity generation, improving security of

supply and reducing costs. Hydrogen is seen as an alternative clean energy source to replace polluting

traditional fuels however, 95 % of the world's hydrogen is derived from non-renewable fuels. Alternative

renewable sources of hydrogen are required. This feasibility project brings academia and industry together to

develop a combined biological / electrochemical process to convert animal and human waste to renewable

hydrogen. It will focus on removing technical barriers which are limiting scale up and commercialisation.

Success will lead to significant electricity generation from abundant, low value, potentially polluting waste

streams and the development of the process will open the way for the technology to be exploited in other

overseas markets and other industry sectors such as food manufacturing and processing.