The University of Bristol has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hydrogen Future Industries plc (HFI), to collaborate to advance respective technologies, secure funding for joint research and development and accelerate commercial opportunities.
HFI is a developer of a proprietary green hydrogen production system featuring an advanced aerodynamic wind turbine and a high-performance electrolyser and was established to invest in projects and companies focused on the Hydrogen Economy.
Th University of Bristol host several hydrogen related research activities and projects – most notably The Hydrogen Depleted Uranium Storage (HyDUS) Project. HyDUS is a collaborative project involving EDF UK (lead partner), University of Bristol, Urenco and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).
HyDUS’s grid-scale storage is designed to meet three key objectives:
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- to help balance fluctuations in the supply of energy from renewables such as wind and solar as well as provide nuclear powerplant sites with a load following capability (in all cases, large-scale hydrogen storage is vital to ensure power from renewables and nuclear is dependable and available on demand);
- to help decarbonise the national grid; and
- to provide high purity hydrogen for transport applications and energy intensive industries seeking to decarbonise.
The University of Bristol has also identified several pilot or demonstrator sites suitable for locating HFI’s green hydrogen production system including potential use of university sites outside the city of Bristol.
Tim Blake, CEO, HFI Energy Systems, commented:
“We are excited to be working with the University of Bristol to accelerate the development of HFI’s system, especially the Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyser. The University of Bristol has a world-class team with world-class facilities and together we can accelerate the development of the cutting-edge technology. Our electrolyser has demonstrated exceptional efficiency in testing to date and the technology has been identified by UoB as a perfect fit for their HyDUS project. Having access to sites in the UK to develop and demonstrate the complete green hydrogen system, from generation to utilisation, is very important to both parties.”
Tom Scott, Professor, University of Bristol, commented:
“I have known Tim Blake for some time and have been waiting for the opportunity to collaborate on hydrogen projects with him and his team. The HFI green hydrogen production system could fundamentally change the energy landscape as we know it. It also has clear and immediate synergies with our HyDUS project and other technologies we are actively developing. By collaborating with HFI, we hope to share human, intellectual and equipment resources whilst also fast-tracking grant and other joint funding opportunities.”