North East universities join forces to boost hydrogen development in Tees Valley

TEESSIDE University and Durham University are to work together on a project to radically reduce greenhouse emissions from industrial processes in the Tees Valley.

The two institutions aim to accelerate decarbonisation (removing carbon dioxide emissions) and increase the use of emission-free hydrogen through research, development and capacity-building.

Hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in industrial processes – thus slashing emissions of carbon dioxide (the most abundant greenhouse gas) – released by energy-intensive industries such as steel production.

Tees Valley produces almost 50 per cent of the UK’s hydrogen, and developments in this sector are expected to be a huge driver of economic growth in the region.

University researchers will collaborate on a four-year £11million project led by Teesside University and supported by £4.8million from the Research England Development (RED) Fund, plus funding from the two universities and their industrial partners.

In 2018, a report by analysts KPMG suggested the hydrogen economy could add up to £7billion to the Tees Valley economy by 2050 – and create up to 1,000 high-quality jobs.

Teesside University has sought to establish a hydrogen economy locally for more than 20 years, and the launch of a £16.4m Net Zero Industrial Innovation Centre (NZIIC) will turbocharge that effort.

Durham University’s contribution is led by the Durham Energy Institute (DEI) – a hub for multi-disciplinary energy research, which is at the forefront of the national and international research effort into the production, storage, distribution and utilisation of hydrogen.

DEI advises Teesside industry, as well as working with academics from the local university on collaborative research projects as part of the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC), a UK research and innovation-funded programme to support decarbonisation in the UK’s industrial heartlands.

This new joint research project will bring together a large group of industrial and policy research fellows who will work with industrial partners to identify challenges and develop innovative solutions.

Examples of these challenges include switching to hydrogen for high-grade heating (used in steel production), the use of hydrogen in flexible and resilient power systems, and hydrogen-fuelled heavy-duty transportation.

The project will investigate making a ‘fair’ transition to Net Zero – ensuring that the jobs created stay local, and the local community benefits from improvements to the natural environment.

Running alongside this, there will also be a programme of outreach and engagement in primary and secondary schools to promote careers in the hydrogen sector.

Professor Stephen Cummings, pro vice-chancellor (research and innovation) at Teesside University, said: “This ambitious project aligns perfectly with our research strategy by helping to deliver a smooth transition to decarbonisation, ensuring that all members of our society are able to benefit from the move to net zero.”

Professor Colin Bain, pro vice-chancellor (research) at Durham University, added: “Durham Energy Institute has an active portfolio of technical and social science research, which brings together hydrogen expertise from across the University to drive innovation through the supply chain and tackle social, market and regulatory barriers.

“This project is another good example of the universities of the North East working together to tackle regional and national challenges, and to drive social and economic renewal in the North East of England.”

Professor Nashwan Dawood, associate dean (research and innovation) and lead investigator at Teesside University, said: “The outcomes from this project are set to make a real impact on the economy of the Tees Valley, as well as driving global change through the increased uptake and adoption of hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels.”

Professor Tony Roskilly, chair of energy systems and lead investigator at Durham University, said: “This project builds on our existing industrial decarbonisation collaboration with colleagues in Teesside and provides the opportunity to directly stimulate innovation through a cohort of industrial and social research fellows.”