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Fuelling innovation: Three groundbreaking demonstration projects set to drive a net zero future

A trio of UK trials demonstrating hydrogen’s potential have begun, supported by the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative.

Three new projects, supported by the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) and Connected Places Catapult, will push new boundaries and showcase technologies for hydrogen production, conditioning and end use.

The three demonstration projects are being led by Compact Syngas Solutions, Stratospheric Platforms, and PlusZero in partnership with Heriot Watt University. The Hydrogen Innovation Initiative, supported by Innovate UK, is working to bring together industry, Government, and academia to create an investible, globally competitive hydrogen technology and services sector, here in the UK.

Compact Syngas Solutions (CSS) is a UK-based SME whose innovative waste-to-energy gasification process produces clean fuels, power and hydrogen. They help organisations to decarbonise and meet their net zero goals.

CSS has developed the innovative MicroHub – a low-cost, modular power system with a small footprint for fast deployment and easy scalability. It uses a range of feedstocks to produce power, heat, hydrogen and carbon credits. Their demonstration programme is testing system operating performance with various waste biomass feedstocks.

Stratospheric Platforms Ltd (SPL) is developing unique insulation technology for liquid hydrogen (LH2) tanks. This technology provides a low-risk, high-performance pathway to liquid hydrogen powered flight for both passenger and High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) aircraft. A key advantage of the technology is it does not rely on vacuum, reducing hazards and complexity whilst achieving improved weight and overall vehicle thermal management. SPL has previously validated this concept with successful tests on small-scale prototypes. In this demonstration, SPL will create a new higher fidelity prototype tank and insulation system and test it using liquid hydrogen to further validate thermal performance models.

PlusZero’s decarbonising campus and intra-site transport logistics project using onsite green hydrogen production (DecarLOG), in partnership with Heriot-Watt University, will demonstrate that everyday movement of light freight and people can be accomplished using locally renewably-generated fuel, in the process pioneering a safe, closed-loop, zero-emission energy production and consumption campus mobility pathway.

A heavy-duty electric pedal-assist (cargo) cycle, will combine human and motorised power to move materials at low speed around campus, substituting for movements currently carried out using a fossil-fuelled vehicle. The cargo cycle will be refuelled with hydrogen in interchangeable low-pressure metal hydride cannisters.

We're delighted to announce our support for these demonstrations partnering with Compact Syngas Solutions, Stratospheric Platforms, and PlusZero. Together we're embarking on a series of demonstrations to explore the potential of hydrogen-based technologies across multiple sectors and to showcase UK innovation in the hydrogen sector
Connected Places Catapult’s Concept Demonstration Team Lead, Alan Nettleton

The Hydrogen Innovation Initiative’s mission is to help build robust and resilient hydrogen technology supply chains. By accelerating the development of critical technologies for the hydrogen economy, we are supporting UK industry to anchor high-value jobs, boost resilience and drive decarbonisation. HII is supporting industry to seize this opportunity by scaling product and service development, allowing UK businesses to compete in the global hydrogen economy and paving the way for a net-zero future.

If you are looking to learn more about the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative, please visit the website where you can read the UK Hydrogen Innovation Opportunity reports and contribute to the Case for Action surveys before 30th September. To learn more about upcoming opportunities for support from Connected Places Catapult, visit the opportunities page on our website.