The University of Manchester (UoM) boasts a dynamic team of over 70 academics dedicated to pioneering research in various hydrogen-related fields. This extensive research encompasses a broad range of topics such as the hydrogen production, purification, storage, and transportation and utilisation, as well as its potential environmental and societal impacts. Some key areas are:

• Hydrogen production, purification and utilisation;
• Hydrogen storage, transport and materials;
• Hydrogen economy, sustainability and policy;
• Cross-cutting themes and platforms.

Hydrogen research at University of Manchester

The University of Manchester (UoM) boasts a dynamic team of over 70 academics dedicated to pioneering research in various hydrogen-related fields. This extensive research encompasses a broad range of topics such as the hydrogen production, purification, storage, and transportation and utilisation, as well as its potential environmental and societal impacts. Some key areas are:

• Hydrogen production, purification and utilisation

1. • Research on hydrogen production encompasses thermochemical, electrochemical and biochemical processes. Manchester is leading the development of thermal processes up to demonstration scale for blue hydrogen via gas-solid reactions and waste valorisation. Alternative routes for clean production include nuclear at Dalton Nuclear Institute, electrolysis of water, solar-driven processes and biological processes.
   • As part of the Industrial Hub for Sustainable Engineering, the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering deliver translational research with industries for the scale-up and demonstration of new processes development, material formulation (including catalysis and membranes) and in a variety of applications (Utilisation, Fuel Cells and Production, Electrolysers) looking at use in many sectors including the transport and aviation industry. In the James Chadwick Building, two state-of-the-art large-scale demonstration plants integrated with advanced control systems (Siemens PCS Neo) are available to translate research into applications. The production can be also integreated into infrastructure multi-energy systems.
   • Many of the production methods for hydrogen require new energy materials and we have dedicated teams in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Materials, The Henry Royce Institute, UoM@Harwell and BP-ICAM developing catalysts, membranes, plasma reactors and nanomaterials.

• Hydrogen storage, transport and materials

1. • The University of Manchester has substantial expertise in the subsurface (e.g. chemical engineering, earth sciences, University of Manchester at Harwell) spanning chemical, mechanical and microbiological characterisation and fluid dynamics simulation these expertise have being harnessed to understand underground hydrogen storage systems. This work also links closely to varied industrial clusters via The Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre for large-scale storage options.
   • Researchers are innovating hydrogen storage materials by looking at varied materials, for example develop highly porous materials like MOFs for hydrogen storage, with efforts to introduce active sites which can bind hydrogen at near ambient temperature.
   • Royce has published Materials for Low-Carbon Production of Hydrogen and Related Energy Carriers and Chemical Feedstocks roadmap sets out the priorities for hydrogen relevant materials, targets and enablers which have been identified by UK research communities to help to achieve efficient, durable and sustainable hydrogen production and storage.

• Hydrogen economy, sustainability, and policy

1. • We have world-leading research policy and social acceptance in energy and as part of the energy transition, our NetZero expertise provides a fundamental frame for hydrogen implementation, for example through Tyndall Manchester.
   • Researchers at Manchester Environmental Research Institute are leading the research on the environmental impact and sustainability of hydrogen economy.

• Cross-cutting themes and platforms

1. • UoM hosts a diverse array of platforms and institutes dedicated to multidisciplinary research in the field of hydrogen, such as Energy Beacon, Sustainable futures, Manchester Environmental Research Institute, The Henry Royce Institute, UoM@Harwell, BP-ICAM, and Digital futures.