State-of-the-art £7.5million plant at Cranfield University to explore hydrogen production

The HyPER project (Bulk Hydrogen Production by Sorbent Enhanced Steam Reforming) will construct a state-of-the-art pilot plant at the university to test an innovative hydrogen production technology that substantially reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

With £7.5million funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) Energy Innovation Programme, the project also involves US-based research and development organisation GTI and Doosan Babcock.

The project centres on a novel hydrogen production technology invented by GTI with the pilot plant will becoming operational next year.

Minster for business, energy and clean growth, Kwasi Kwarteng, said: “Hydrogen offers the opportunity of a cleaner, greener fuel for heating our homes and getting us from A to B. The innovative project from Cranfield University, GTI and Doosan Babcock is a clear step in that direction – particularly in this year of climate action.”

Professor Phil Hart, director of energy and power at Cranfield University, said: “Each year the world consumes 74million tonnes of hydrogen and demand will increase as countries seek to decarbonise their economies. The kind of technology we are exploring could open up this market across the globe and make the production, storage and transportation of low-carbon hydrogen a widespread reality.”

Dr Peter Clough, lecturer in energy engineering at Cranfield University, said: “The pilot plant will be a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the scale-up of the technology and process, and to offer a unique teaching and research facility for students at Cranfield University.”

Mike Rutkowski, GTI senior vice president, research and technology development, added: “Moving the technology forward will minimise greenhouse gas emissions, and we anticipate great benefits for consumers, industry, and the hydrogen sector."