The funding will advance low-carbon energy solutions by producing hydrogen from waste steam generated by nuclear energy facilities
Robert Gordon University (RGU) has secured funding to accelerate low-carbon energy solutions by producing hydrogen from waste steam generated by nuclear energy facilities, with a view to scaling it up
The £800,000 grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will support Professor Nadimul Faisal and his team of researchers at the School of Computing, Engineering and Technology (SoCET) in advancing the next generation of hydrogen production technology.
The project will develop advances in solid oxide steam electrolysers (SOSE), an efficient technology that produces clean hydrogen utilising electricty and heat from renewable and nuclear sources. This building on work the SoCET researchers have already carried out, after designing a tubular cell capable of withstanding the high temperatures associated with SOSE systems that operate between 600-900°C.
Faisal said, "Hydrogen is central to achieving the UK’s net-zero goals. This investment allows us to push forward the science and engineering needed to make solid oxide steam electrolysis commercially viable, while creating new opportunities for sustainable innovation in partnership with industry."
Professor Mamdud Hossain of RGU said, “RGU has built an excellent reputation in hydrogen research, both applied through a number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and increasingly on curiosity-driven research as evidenced by the back-to-back EPSRC grants.”
Known as METASIS 2.0 (UKRI3156), this research is part of the METASIS project (EP/W033178/1) led by Professor Faisal, delivered in partnership with the University of Surrey, Aston University, and the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), as well as more than a dozen other partners.
Dr Bahman Amini Horri, University of Surrey, said, “We are developing the next generation of steam electrolysers to produce sustainable hydrogen in an efficient and affordable way. The technology uses innovative heterogeneous electrolyte composites recently developed at the University of Surrey, which are integrated into coating layers applied to traditional porous ferritic steel tubes, serving as a cost-effective manufacturing method.”
Dr Mark Bankhead, United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), said, “We at UKNNL are looking forward to supporting the team and to encourage the development of low-TRL technologies that could increase the potential of new nuclear to drive decarbonisation. Having supported the team in the previous grant award, we are delighted to have the opportunity to continue this potentially groundbreaking research that could utilise both the heat and electrical power from a nuclear reactor to produce low carbon hydrogen fuel.”
Dr Amirpiran Amiri, Aston University, said, “At Aston, in collaboration with our academic and industry partners, we are exploring various approaches to reduce the cost and carbon footprint of hydrogen production. METASIS 2.0 is a promising project in this effort, as it aims to lower the demand for expensive electrical power by partially replacing it with waste heat.”
