Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions Hub (HI-ACT)
Lead Research Organisation:
Newcastle University
Department Name: Sch of Engineering
Abstract
Hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels (HALF) have an essential role in the net-zero transition by providing connectivity and flexibility across the energy system. Despite advancements in the field of hydrogen research both in the physical sciences and engineering, significant barriers remain to the scalable adoption of hydrogen and alternative liquid fuel technologies, and energy services, into the UK's local and national whole system infrastructure. These are technical barriers, organisational barriers, regulatory and societal barriers, and financial barriers.
There are, therefore, significant gaps between current levels of hydrogen production, transportation, storage, conversion, and usage, and the estimated requirement for achieving net-zero by 2050. To address this, our proposed research programme has four interlinked work packages.
WP1 will develop forward-thinking HALF technology roadmaps. We will assess supply chain availability and security. Selected representative HALF use cases will be used to identify and quantify any opportunities, risks and dependencies within a whole systems analysis. We will also develop an overarching roadmap for HALF system integration in order to inform technology advancement, industry and business development, as well as policy making and social interventions.
WP2 will improve HALF characterisation and explore urgent new perspectives on the energy transition, including those related to ensuring resilience and security while also achieving net-zero. We will contrast the energy transition delivered by real incentives/behaviour versus those projected by widely-used optimisation models. The WP provides the whole systems modelling engine of the HI-ACT Hub, with a diverse array of state-of-the-art tools to explore HALF integration.
WP 3 will explore the vital coupling of data and information relating to whole system planning and operational decision support, through the creation of a cyber physical architecture (CPA). This will generate new learning on current and future opportunities and risks, from a data and information perspective, which will lead to a whole system ontology for accelerated integration of hydrogen technologies.
WP 4 considers options for a future energy system with HALF from a number of perspectives. The first is to consider expert views on HALF energy futures, and the public perceptions of those views. The second perspective considers place-based options for social benefit in HALF energy futures. The third perspective is to consider regulatory and policy options which would better enable HALF futures.
Embedded across the research programme is the intent to create robust tools which are investment-oriented in their analysis. A Whole Systems and Energy Systems Integration approach is needed here, in order to better understand the interconnected and interdependent nature of complex energy systems from a technical, social, environmental and economic perspective.
The Hub is led by Prof Sara Walker, Director of the EPSRC National Centre for Energy Systems Integration, supported by a team of 16 academics at a range of career stages. The team have extensive experience of large energy research projects and strong networks of stakeholders across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They bring to the Hub major hydrogen demonstrators through support from partners involved in InTEGReL in Gateshead, ReFLEX in Orkney, and FLEXIS Demonstration in South Wales for example.
We shall engage to create a vibrant, diverse, and open community that has a deeper understanding of whole systems approaches and the role of hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels within that. We shall do so in a way which embeds Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the approach. We shall do so in a way which is a hybrid of virtual and in-person field work consultation and develop appropriate digital tools for engagement.
There are, therefore, significant gaps between current levels of hydrogen production, transportation, storage, conversion, and usage, and the estimated requirement for achieving net-zero by 2050. To address this, our proposed research programme has four interlinked work packages.
WP1 will develop forward-thinking HALF technology roadmaps. We will assess supply chain availability and security. Selected representative HALF use cases will be used to identify and quantify any opportunities, risks and dependencies within a whole systems analysis. We will also develop an overarching roadmap for HALF system integration in order to inform technology advancement, industry and business development, as well as policy making and social interventions.
WP2 will improve HALF characterisation and explore urgent new perspectives on the energy transition, including those related to ensuring resilience and security while also achieving net-zero. We will contrast the energy transition delivered by real incentives/behaviour versus those projected by widely-used optimisation models. The WP provides the whole systems modelling engine of the HI-ACT Hub, with a diverse array of state-of-the-art tools to explore HALF integration.
WP 3 will explore the vital coupling of data and information relating to whole system planning and operational decision support, through the creation of a cyber physical architecture (CPA). This will generate new learning on current and future opportunities and risks, from a data and information perspective, which will lead to a whole system ontology for accelerated integration of hydrogen technologies.
WP 4 considers options for a future energy system with HALF from a number of perspectives. The first is to consider expert views on HALF energy futures, and the public perceptions of those views. The second perspective considers place-based options for social benefit in HALF energy futures. The third perspective is to consider regulatory and policy options which would better enable HALF futures.
Embedded across the research programme is the intent to create robust tools which are investment-oriented in their analysis. A Whole Systems and Energy Systems Integration approach is needed here, in order to better understand the interconnected and interdependent nature of complex energy systems from a technical, social, environmental and economic perspective.
The Hub is led by Prof Sara Walker, Director of the EPSRC National Centre for Energy Systems Integration, supported by a team of 16 academics at a range of career stages. The team have extensive experience of large energy research projects and strong networks of stakeholders across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They bring to the Hub major hydrogen demonstrators through support from partners involved in InTEGReL in Gateshead, ReFLEX in Orkney, and FLEXIS Demonstration in South Wales for example.
We shall engage to create a vibrant, diverse, and open community that has a deeper understanding of whole systems approaches and the role of hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels within that. We shall do so in a way which embeds Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the approach. We shall do so in a way which is a hybrid of virtual and in-person field work consultation and develop appropriate digital tools for engagement.
Organisations
Publications
Thomas G
(2023)
Hydrogen, a less disruptive pathway for domestic heat? Exploratory findings from public perceptions research
in Cleaner Production Letters
Blanche J
(2024)
Dynamic analysis of geomaterials using microwave sensing
in Scientific Reports
Description | A knowledge exchange workshop and visit to India to discuss hydrogen energy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | I was invited by RAEng to attend a visit to India and give a presentation in a workshop to discuss hydrogen integration in the energy system. We visited several industry sites working on hydrogen technologies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | A panel talk at Solar & Storage Live UK 2023, Session Title: 'In the Pipeline - Developing the Gas Grid for Hydrogen Transmission & Distribution' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | A panel talk at Solar & Storage Live UK 2023, Session Title: 'In the Pipeline - Developing the Gas Grid for Hydrogen Transmission & Distribution', 17 October 2023 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.thenec.co.uk/whats-on/solar-storage-live/ |
Description | A talk in a Green Hydrogen workshop organised by Royal Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | I was invited by the Royal Society to attend a residential workshop and give a talk about the system integration of hydrogen. The workshop aimed to identify the barriers against deployment of green hydrogen. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | ACE event presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presentation for the ACE network, that supports BAME students |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.uwlsu.com/opportunities/acenetwork/ |
Description | Cardiff University School of Engineering Research Conference 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Opening speech and keynote speech |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Chairing hydrogen working group of North East Energy Catalyst, 12/6/23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Hydrogen working group, discussing joint collaboration across the region |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | EPSRC Scenario Consultation Event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | EPSRC scenario consultation event |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Energetic Future Britain & Norway Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | This conference took place in Port of Tyne and Gateshead and focused on how Norway will support the United Kingdom in its move to net zero. Attendees included delegates from regional and local government, policymakers and politicians to energy companies and suppliers from both Norway and the UK; investor companies; British and Norwegian clusters; industry bodies/organisations; academia, accelerators and incubators. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://energeticfuture.co.uk/ |
Description | HI-ACT and CPC joint workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | 15 people from both HI-ACT and Connected Places Catapult joined the workshop for further collaboration on transportation decarbonisation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | HI-ACT/UK-HyRES joint launch |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Joint launch for the HI-ACT & UK-HyRES hubs, that focused on outlining research activities for both hubs as well as engaging with key stakeholders in industry and policy making. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://hi-act.ac.uk/news/hi-act-team-collaborate-with-sister-hydrogen-hub-uk-hyres-in-birmingham-fo... |
Description | Heating and cooling network conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | 2 day Network+ academic conference for the decarbonisation of heating and cooling. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/network-hc-annual-conference-tickets-633405943227 |
Description | IET conference Powering Net Zero |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | IET Powering Net Zero was a conference that acted as forum for engineers, planners and innovators to meet, learn, and discuss all the most pertinent issues relating to engineering solutions to net zero. Prof Sara Walker chaired a panel at the event, entitled "Ahead of COP 28." |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://renewablepower.theiet.org/programme/ |
Description | IGEM Board Meeting, 8/6/23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Board member for Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers Hydrogen group |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | INZAC June Quarterly Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | SPEN Independent Net Zero Advisory Council (INZAC) meeting |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | INZAC Technical/Customer Group Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Advisory position INZAC Technical/Customer Group |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | INZAC Update - ASTI (Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Meeting to discuss the development of the ASTI framework |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Interview - HSE Net Zero Sub Strategy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | The third party company, Verian, had an interview with me to discuss my hydrogen relevant research work, which is part of the expert interviews conducted by Verian on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to contribute to HSE's understanding of how to influence key audiences to 'design in' safety and health considerations, at the initial, technology design & planning stages of new and emerging technology development. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://www.hsl.gov.uk/safe-net-zero |
Description | Invited keynote talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Keynote at the annual Boulton and Watt lecture 2024, of the Lunar Society, Birmingham. Over 50 attendees across the Lunar Society members, and local students and staff of the University of Birmingham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Keynote at icRS, 1/8/23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Keynote to International Conference on Resource Sustainability, University of Surrey, regarding HI-ACT |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Meeting AECOM and North of Tyne Combined Authority, 27/7/23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Discussed hydrogen thought leadership piece. Resulted in shared event at COP28, leadership white paper, and hydrogen round table. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Meeting with AM XCarb Innovation Fund |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Discussed hydrogen innovation in steel sector |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Meeting with Digital Catapult |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Discussed hydrogen certification schemes as part of Hydrogen Innovation Initiative project and HI-ACT |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Meeting with Environment Agency, 29/6/23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Discussed collaboration on hydrogen - particularly relating to green hydrogen and water demand for electrolysis, for HI-ACT |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Meeting with Monash Energy Institute |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Discussed collaboration between HI-ACT and Monash |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Meeting with Northern Gas Networks, 12/6/23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Discussed links between HI-ACT and former Integrel site |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Meeting with Northern Powergrid, 9/6/23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Discussed possible joint projects |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | News Blog on HiAct Research Hub website |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | When public engagement goes wrong: Learning from a hydrogen village trial - HI ACT (hi-act.ac.uk) Drawing on original research evidence from the EPSRC funded NEUPA project as well HiAct - a new major UK energy/infrastructure investment, this blog post prompted an immediate email acknowledging it's interest and value from a key figure in UK national government (DESNZ). "When public engagement goes wrong: Learning from a hydrogen village trial" [A HiAct News Blog], Gareth Thomas and Karen Henwood, first published December 15th 2023. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://hi-act.ac.uk/blogs/when-public-engagement-goes-wrong-learning-from-a-hydrogen-village-trial |
Description | North East Heat Network Cluster Event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Joint hosting of North East Heat Network Cluster Event, with HI-ACT and North of Tyne Combined Authority. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.nof.co.uk/news/2023/november/north-east-heat-networks-2023-expanding-the-opportunity-for... |
Description | Organising committee of national workshop on green hydrogen |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Workshop organised in collaboration with Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering. Professor Sara Walker was on organising committee, Professor Paul Dodds and Professor Meysam Qadrdan were invited speaks. Event is to lead to a policy briefing report. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Participation at 14-15 September 2023 UKERC General Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Participation at 14-15 September 2023 UKERC General Meeting |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Talk to North East Women in Engineering and Computing Science, 30/6/23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Talk to staff and students about my career journey in energy |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Talk to webinar 'Sustainability and the world around us', Newcastle University, 26/7/23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Talk to university students |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | UK US Hydrogen Engagement Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Prof Jianzhong Wu met with the USA representatives for the UK Science and Innovation Network to provide an overview of the Hydrogen Hubs with Prof Tim Mays. Initial areas of collaboration we discussed in the meeting were joint policy impact, the whole system challenge and the steel industry (including linkages with the new US Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs).Next steps include gathering key colleagues from the US and UK to create a small working group to take the relationship forward |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | UKERC Workshop. Accelerating decarbonisation of heat in the UK. Online workshop was held on the 29th June 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Workshop objectives Decarbonisation of heat is essential to meet the UK Net Zero carbon target by 2050. Currently, heat used for space heating, cooking and industrial processes accounts for approximately 35% of all carbon emissions. Substantial progress needs to be made from an ideological, technological, and policy standpoint to enable the acceleration of heat decarbonisation in this and the next decade to meet the net zero carbon target. With approximately one year left of UKERC phase 4 funding, the objectives of the workshop are to bring together key UKERC and external researchers to: • Outline UKERC work on heat decarbonisation. • Investigate how technologies/policies can enable acceleration of heat decarbonisation. • Explore how existing work can be 'integrated' to achieve greater impact (policy/technology briefs)? • Share data, methods, and models: technologies, demand, scenarios, and projections. • Identify gaps in research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | University of Namibia Hydrogen Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Hydrogen research focused meeting with key members of University of Namibia ( including Vice Chancellor) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum policy conference: Next steps for hydrogen industry in the UK |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | On 29th February 2024, Sara Walker presented at the Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum policy conference: Next steps for hydrogen industry in the UK. Sara was a senior representative in the session that discussed the next steps for delivery of hydrogen: infrastructure development, transportation, storage, blending and distribution strategies, business models and commercialisation, sourcing raw materials and improving the supply chain. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/conferences/westminster-energy-environment-and-transport-... |
Description | Workshop on Flexible and Zero Carbon Energy Systems for Data Centres at Cardiff University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The workshop aimed to explore innovative solutions for creating flexible and zero carbon energy systems specifically tailored for data centers(DCs). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Workshop with Energy Systems Catapult |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | A workshop was held between HI-ACT and Energy Systems Catapult. We discussed modelling approaches being taken, and ways of collaborating. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | World Fuel Cell Conference 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | The 2023 World Fuel Cell Conference (WFCC) was a multi-disciplinary conference that covered the latest developments and advancements in fuel cells, from fundamentals, to advanced materials, design, engineering, products, and applications, held at Imperial College London. Prof Walker delivered a keynote address entitled Hydrogen integration into energy systems: the glue for Net Zero. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.iahe-fcd.org/wfcc-2023-program |