- The University of Sheffield is set to produce more green hydrogen than any other UK research centre to support vital research into new sustainable aviation fuels
- Sheffield has installed a new hydrogen electrolyser – technology that produces hydrogen – to enable its researchers to work with industry to produce, develop and test new hydrogen fuels
- Equipment is based in the University’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels Innovation Centre (SAF-IC) – the first R&D centre in the UK to develop, test, validate and help certify new fuels all in one place
- Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) are crucial to reducing global carbon emissions and hydrogen is seen as a key fuel in reaching net zero
- Electrolyser will also be used to help other industries switch fuels and decarbonise
The University of Sheffield is set to produce more green hydrogen than any other UK research centre, thanks to new equipment that will support vital research to help decarbonise the aviation industry.
Sheffield’s Energy Institute is installing a new hydrogen electrolyser – technology that produces hydrogen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. The equipment will be used in research to develop and test new hydrogen-based sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs).
The electrolyser, from IMI Remosa under the new brand IMI VIVO, is being installed in the University’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels Innovation Centre (SAF-IC) – the UK’s first R&D facility that is able to develop, test, validate and help certify new fuels all in one location. The facility, along with the new electrolyser, gives the UK much-needed R&D capabilities in SAFs and can play a major role in helping reduce the environmental impact of air travel.
SAFs are seen as a vital step in reducing global carbon emissions. The aviation industry is responsible for around seven per cent of total carbon emissions in the UK alone and this number is growing fast.
However, aviation’s reliance on fossil fuels makes it a challenging sector to decarbonise and new fuels are subject to strict standards and regulations before they can be approved for use.
Researchers from Sheffield will work with partners in the aviation industry to develop new hydrogen and CO2-based fuels that meet these strict standards. They will also work with other industries across the UK to help them switch fuels and decarbonise.
