News | Monday, 25th March 2019

GM Green Summit: Why we're developing a Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Strategy for the region

Manchester Metropolitan has a key role helping foster and research the pioneering technology

Amer Gaffar, Director of Manchester Metropolitan University's Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre
Amer Gaffar, Director of Manchester Metropolitan University's Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre

By Amer Gaffar, Director of Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.

Back when I was at school, when we were shown the periodic table, hydrogen was top of the list but that’s all most of us remember about it.

Now, schools are teaching children about the potential of hydrogen and fuel cells – and they are entering the consciousness of government and business – as they may be key to the emerging renewable energy sector.

Hydrogen does not exist by itself within nature. It has to be produced and there are many ways to do this.

The way to create it to benefit everyone is with renewable technology, using the power of wind or the sun.  

Dr Samuel Rowley-Neale, Post-doctoral Research Associate, preparing equipment at the University's Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre
Dr Samuel Rowley-Neale, Post-doctoral Research Associate, preparing equipment at the University's Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre

Electrolysis power

One method of doing this is through electrolysis, using an electrical current to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Electrolysis delivers energy efficiency of around 80 per cent. In other words, the energy value of the hydrogen produced is about 80 per cent of the electricity used to split the water molecule.

Two main technologies – batteries and hydrogen fuel cells – can provide storage for renewables.

Often portrayed as competitors, they are complementary for different applications.

Batteries are widely available, have low conversion losses and their costs have fallen sharply.

Deploying them does not require much infrastructure, making them relatively easy to adopt.

The high energy density of on-board hydrogen storage, about 10 times higher than the energy density of rechargeable batteries, makes hydrogen fuel-cell systems ideal for powering large, heavy modes of transport. 

Although the initial incremental infrastructure investments might be higher, hydrogen infrastructure is less costly at scale and does not affect the electricity network. Direct charging infrastructure needs significant grid upgrades.

The benefits of fuel cells

A fuel cell essentially provides the same service as a battery. Fuel cells use hydrogen and oxygen from the air to generate electricity, the only by-products being water and heat.

Electricity, no matter how it’s made, is just a flow of electrons.

Despite their higher set-up and development cost, fuel cells have lower maintenance costs and a longer operating life than batteries.

The costs of fuel cells will inevitably decrease because most of the materials, such as graphite, commodity metals, plastics, and composite, are inexpensive.

What is expensive is platinum, the most commonly used fuel cell catalyst. 

To overcome this, scientists globally are researching catalysts made from base metals that could reduce or replace platinum with other advanced materials, and also ways to improve platinum recycling systems to reduce costs.

That includes us at the University's Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre (MFCIC), which was officially opened in September 2018 as a £4.1m technology hub dedicated to producing emission-free energy that is accessible to as many people as possible.

Electrodes empregnated with nanotechnology are being screen-printed by Manchester Metropolitan academics for use in electrolysers
Electrodes for use in electrolysers are being screen-printed by Manchester Metropolitan academics with ink infused with nanotechnology 

Manchester's clean power story

Electric vehicles are already commercially available with automotive fuel cells, for which we need to install hydrogen infrastructure now.

In the UK, this is a chicken-and-egg scenario, as the vehicle manufacturers wait for oil and gas companies to make their move. 

Many people have explored using hydrogen and fuel cells to generate clean power over the years.

We have our own story in Manchester. 

In 2013, the University started a journey with the launch of a Greater Manchester Hydrogen Partnership which aimed to develop a network of hydrogen fuel cell stakeholders that could bring together knowledge and skills to improve Greater Manchester’s capacity to address the challenges of grid demand, energy security and ability to create a lower carbon economy.

Manchester Metropolitan's MFCIC exists to provide SMEs, industry and policy makers with access to expertise and state-of-the-art facilities to implement hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, nationally and globally. 

Given projected market growth and high technology costs, a lack of support will slow commercialisation of hydrogen and fuel cell applications.

The MFCIC aims to stimulate supply and demand, supporting a market that opens up opportunities and collaborations at both a city and a regional level. 

Greater access to research and development is essential but existing business support providers, even those that focus on renewable energy, do not offer hydrogen or fuel-cell specific advice or assistance.

This is where the MFCIC can help, but we still need to be doing more. 

£4.1m was invested in setting up the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre
£4.1m was invested in setting up the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre

Developing a regional strategy

We are today announcing our intention at the Greater Manchester Green Summit to develop a Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Strategy for Greater Manchester. 

The high-level objectives that are driving this initiative are:

The strategy will be officially launched within 12 months of the 2019 summit and will be adopted within the region and is set to be a coalition between the public and private sector.

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