Funding:
The Low Carbon Challenge Fund is a collaborative initiative between the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, backed by a total investment of £2.79 million. This funding includes £1.39 million from the European Regional Development Fund.
Project Overview
As the world transitions to net zero energy systems, hydrogen is poised to play a critical role in decarbonising industries and transport sectors. However, its adoption faces significant challenges, including high capital intensity, lack of standardisation, and inadequate infrastructure. With Scotland’s abundance of renewable resources, such as wind and tidal power, the country is uniquely positioned to become a leader in green hydrogen production.
Despite past pilot projects relying on grant funding, the urgency of climate change demands a shift towards scalable, commercially viable solutions that can drive widespread adoption. The Hydrogen Accelerator project aims to address this need by facilitating collaboration between SMEs and universities to accelerate innovation in hydrogen technologies. By leveraging Scotland’s renewable potential and empowering SMEs to contribute their expertise, this project seeks to establish a thriving hydrogen economy that supports a sustainable future for industries and communities alike.
Objectives
The Hydrogen Accelerator project aimed to unlock Scotland’s hydrogen potential by supporting innovation in SMEs operating in the hydrogen sector. Funded in 2021 and delivered in partnership with the University of St Andrews, the project leveraged academic expertise and specialised testing equipment to address key technological challenges facing Scottish SMEs. The project sought to accelerate the development of new products and services that drive Scotland’s hydrogen economy forward by bridging the gap between industry and academia.
The project’s specific objectives were:
Identify and engage with relevant SMEs to understand their innovation needs and challenges.
Provide research support to address technological challenges, de-risk new technologies, and identify opportunities for growth.
Facilitate collaboration between companies, academia, and the wider research community to accelerate innovation and knowledge transfer.
PNDC’s Role
PNDC was actively involved in the project from 2022 until its conclusion in 2023. To drive Scotland’s transition to a net-zero energy system, we implemented a comprehensive engagement strategy that spanned the entire hydrogen supply chain. Key initiatives included:
Industrial Engagement
We collaborated with industrial stakeholders at every stage of the hydrogen value chain, from electrolyser manufacturers to hydrogen transportation providers and end-users.
Supporting SMEs
We provided expert academic guidance to 7 SMEs as they entered the market, helping them overcome key challenges.
Collaboration with SMEs
In addition, we worked closely with 8 other SMEs to develop innovative proposals in the hydrogen sector.
Concurrently, our internal research team conducted in-depth studies on the challenges and opportunities of using green hydrogen for decarbonising heating in buildings. The results of this research were published in an applied energy journal titled “Caveats of Green Hydrogen for Decarbonisation of Heating in Buildings“.
We also developed a hydrogen cost calculator, which provides indicative levelised costs for hydrogen (LCOH) production in the UK.
Delivery and Outcomes
The results of our engagement and collaboration efforts were positive, with several notable successes. We provided expert guidance to 7 SMEs, helping them navigate the hydrogen market and overcome key challenges.
Additionally, our collaboration with 8 other SMEs led to the further development of 8 innovative proposals in the hydrogen sector. Two of these proposals were particularly successful:
GHOST project (short for Green Hydrogen and Oxygen Supply from Tidal Energy)
These successes demonstrate the potential for collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions to drive innovation and growth in the hydrogen sector.
Impact
PNDC contributed significantly to the success of this project, delivering tangible value-added benefits to its partners and stakeholders. Our impact was evident in several key areas, including:
Increased collaboration and innovation
We supported seven SMEs in developing new collaborations, leading to the creation of seven joint projects.
Government funding secured
The projects we supported resulted in government funding being secured by these SMEs, enabling them to accelerate their innovative work and further grow their businesses.
These outcomes demonstrate PNDC’s value to the project, driving tangible benefits for its partners and contributing to the growth and success of the hydrogen sector.
Get in touch
This project was delivered by Dr Priya Bhagavathy, Dr Callum Rae, Dr Arash Badakhsh and Dr Michael Eull.
Established in 2013, PNDC is one of the University of Strathclyde’s industry-facing innovation centres and focuses on accelerating the development and deployment of novel energy and transport technologies through multiple collaboration models and open access facility provision.
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