Hydrogen Innovation Centre receives £1.7 million kickstart
A Hydrogen Innovation Centre at Emersons Green near Bath has secured £1.7 million from ministers to kickstart the project.
The new 540m2 centre will be housed inside the Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS) building at the Bristol and Bath Science Park and provide state-of-the-art hydrogen research and development facilities for firms.
It aims to help tackle the research challenges blocking the commercial use of green hydrogen, focusing on transforming industries that are difficult to decarbonise like transport, heating and steel which together make up about 90 per cent of all UK greenhouse gas emissions.
The £1.7 million will allow initial works to commence, including refurbishing the first floor of the IAAPS building with new office and work space alongside two fully-equipped hydrogen testing labs.
The centre will be the first of its kind in the region and is hoped to make the West of England one of the leading areas for hydrogen research. The site is expected to support between 250-300 jobs in the future.
The proposed national hydrogen research programme – UK-HyRES – which will be based at the University of Bath, will be a major beneficiary of this initiative.
Prof. Tim Mays, Director of UK-HyRES, said, “This major investment will provide infrastructure for world class research and innovation in low carbon hydrogen, working together with industry, business and civic partners.”
IAAPS Executive Director, Professor Chris Brace, added, “This investment allows us to establish a unique capability to support our industry partners, small and large, as they innovate in the hydrogen space. We can support them across the full range of activity, from basic research to new product introduction. This kind of integrated support is essential if we are to accelerate the introduction of this exciting new technology.”
West of England Combined Authority Metro Mayor, Dan Norris, also welcomed the news. He said, “Hydrogen is clean, powerful and there’s lots of it. That’s why I’m pleased to secure this bumper £1.7 million cash injection to help make the West of England a leader when it comes to research in this zero-emission fuel.
“This will put our region even more firmly on the map as a hydrogen leader, with the UK’s brightest and best hydrogen thinkers and companies all coming together under one roof to figure out how we unlock the take up of hydrogen across all our industries – so very vital in hitting our ambitious net-zero targets locally.”
The project is predicted to bring tens of millions of pounds to the West as business invests in research and development with UK-HyRES and IAAPS
Works to install the office space and two hydrogen labs are expected to be completed by Spring 2024.
