We are pleased to confirm that we have received 160 expressions of interest, amounting to over £41 million in requested funds. This demonstrates the incredible interest in the hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels community. We would like to extend our thanks to all involved in the submissions and to everyone that has helped the hub develop. We are now going through the process of review and look forward to updating the community. 

Thanks and kind regards,

Professor Tim Mays, UK-HyRES Director.

This week our very own Professor Tim Mays was honoured at the University of Bath graduation ceremony by being awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Research Medal. This award is given in recognition of the outstanding research contribution from senior academic members of the University of Bath. 

Upon receiving his award, University of Bath pro-vice-chancellor, Prof. Julian Chaudhuri, said Tim’s research has been “central to the positioning of the University of Bath as a multidisciplinary hub of research excellence”. Tim’s work has led to 160 publications in journals, conferences, and book chapters and he has been involved in over 50 million pounds of grant and leveraged research funding from government and industry. Prof Julian Chaudhuri went on to say Tim has “shown great tenacity and enthusiasm over the last two decades” and has been key to the understanding of “high capacity storage materials” which is paving the way for “new hydrogen storage options in transport, heating and electricity generation”.

Congratulations Tim.

We are delighted to announce that UK-HyRES has received recognition with nominations in both the Sustainability and Technology categories for the Bath Life Awards 2024. These nominations acknowledge the great work our hub has made since its launch just last year and the team on the whole. 

We take great pride in being shortlisted alongside other outstanding organisations, showcasing our dedication to both the environment and the technological landscape in the Bath region and beyond. We extend our gratitude to the Bath Life Awards for spotlighting our project and providing a platform to celebrate excellence in sustainability and technology. Stay tuned for updates on our award, and if you would like more information regarding the Bath Life awards including the full list of nominees and award categories please click here.

Research Project Call 1 – Q and A’s

Following the success of our inaugural Flexible Fund webinar, led by Prof. Tim Mays, an anonymous Q and A session took place to address any outstanding queries. The insightful responses from this session have been transcribed, and we are pleased to make them available to assist individuals still seeking answers or those who missed the webinar itself.

For those considering submitting an expression of interest before the January 24th deadline, we highly recommend reviewing this valuable resource. You can access the transcribed Q&A session by clicking the link below this message. Additionally, find comprehensive details on how to apply for the UK-HyRES Flexible Funding.

UK-hyRES-Call1-WebinarQ&A-Draft1

Deadline for EoI: 24 Jan 2024

How to apply?

This flexible funding call has three stages, with the full details available in the Hydrogen and Alternative Liquid Fuels Research Project Call 1 Document:

• Stage 1, Expressions of Interest – Apply through this MSForm by 15:00 GMT 24 January 2024
• Stage 2, Full Proposal
• Stage 3, Review Panel

What is required for the EOI?

Please take a look at the form and call document for all the information required at Stage 1, primarily we request a 500 word anonymised expression of interest.

Key Details

Download the CALL 1 Full Document

STAGE 1 Expression of Interest Form

We look forward to reviewing your application in due course. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us.

Research Project Call 1

We are pleased to announce that the first UK-HyRES Hydrogen and Alternative Liquid Fuels Research Project Call is live.

Apply now for up to £300,000 (FEC) to deliver groundbreaking projects in Hydrogen and Alternative Liquid Fuels research. 🌐

Deadline for EoI: 24 Jan 2024

Download the CALL 1 Full Document

STAGE 1 Expression of Interest Form

Call 1 Information Webinar

Call 1 Information Webinar from the 12th of January 2024. Q and A from the event will be available soon.

How to apply?

This flexible funding call has three stages, with the full details available in the Hydrogen and Alternative Liquid Fuels Research Project Call 1 Document:

• Stage 1, Expressions of Interest – Apply through this MSForm by 15:00 GMT 24 January 2024
• Stage 2, Full Proposal
• Stage 3, Review Panel

What is required for the EOI?

Please take a look at the form and call document for all the information required at Stage 1, primarily we request a 500 word anonymised expression of interest.

What is in scope?

We want to be as flexible as possible to bring various talents and innovative ideas into the Hub, to drive research and innovation in hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels. Projects could be researching new ideas, delivering critical results that may lead to a second stage of collaborative research beyond the initial exploratory work, or impact acceleration with industry partners leading to commercialisation. The projects will be expected to lead to application-inspired research to strengthen the UK’s position in hydrogen and hydrogen-based liquid fuels, and ultimately make UK industry more competitive.

Key Details

Download the CALL 1 Full Document

STAGE 1 Expression of Interest Form

We look forward to reviewing your application in due course. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us.

EPSRC Hydrogen Hubs Launch

26th – 27th September 2023

The first day of the EPSRC Hydrogen Hubs Launch event was dedicated to a public unveiling and celebration of the UK Hub for Research Challenges in Hydrogen and Alternative Liquid Fuels (UK-HyRES) and the Hydrogen Innovation for Accelerated Energy Transitions Hub (HI-ACT). It was a day filled with insights, discussions, and a shared vision for the future of hydrogen in the UK.

Day 1: 26th September 2023 – EPSRC Hydrogen Hubs Launch  

Dr. Dawei Wu, (HI-ACT Co-I, University of Birmingham), extended a warm welcome to Birmingham. Prof. Sara Walker (HI-ACT Director) and Prof. Tim Mays (UK-HyRES Director), representing the hubs, followed with their greetings and thanked everyone for their contributions to this point. Councillor Lisa Trickett from Birmingham City Council delivered a keynote address, highlighting the importance of hydrogen in sustainable urban development and emphasising the need for a just transition that addresses fuel poverty.

The next session featured an overview of HI-ACT by Prof. Jianzhong Wu (HI-ACT Co-Director, Cardiff University). UK-HyRES was positioned by Prof. Rachael Rothman, UK-HyRES Co-Director at the University of Sheffield, who delved into our unique Hub structure and large, accessible, flexible fund (>£4M). Prof. Rothman discussed our journey so far and the ways for stakeholders to not only engage, but actively shape research that delivers impact. The audience also had the privilege of viewing a video message from The Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE MP, who stressed the importance of taking people along on the journey to net zero and the need for agility and flexibility as strategic drivers for change.

The plenary session introduced the Joint Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), co-chaired by Rita Wadey and Prof. David Grant (Energy Institute Director, University of Nottingham). The session also included fantastic presentations by Prof. Henry Tse on the opportunities that the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) partnership offers and Dr. Allan Simpson of Equilibrion discussed the role of Nuclear Enabled Hydrogen, who remarked, “It’s time to diversify our thinking”.

A panel discussion on “Hydrogen and Alternative Liquid Fuels in a Net Zero Economy,” moderated by Celia Greaves, featured industry experts: Bethan Winter – Wales & West Utilities – System Operations Manager, Prof Xiaohong Li – University of Exeter – Professor of Renewable Energy, Dr Mark Bankhead – National Nuclear Laboratory – Technology Manager Hydrogen and Helen McColm – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – Joint Head of Hydrogen Theme.

The day concluded with engaging discussions in the “Hydrogen Futures – Meet the Investigators” session, where attendees explored future research opportunities and priorities for the hubs. It was an enriching day filled with knowledge sharing and networking, marked by a shared commitment to a sustainable future.

Day 2: 27th September 2023 – Cross-Hub Meetings and SAB Inaugural Gathering

The second day of the event shifted focus to cross-hub collaboration between the two Hub teams and the inaugural meeting of the Joint Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). It was a day dedicated to strategic discussions and planning for the future.

In the Cross-Hub meeting Dr. Chris Jones (UK-HyRES Social Theme Lead) led the UK-HyRES team, while Prof. Jianzhong Wu led the HI-ACT team. These meetings included discussions on joint case study projects and stakeholder engagement plans, fostering collaboration and project development.

Following a coffee break, the focus turned to stakeholder engagement planning. Dr Rajan Jagpal (UK-HyRES Researcher) delivered a workshop on stakeholder engagement and strategy.

Parallel to the Cross-Hub Meting, the SAB convened for its inaugural meeting. Featuring roundtable discussions, steer from the co-chairs, and updates on HI-ACT and UK-HyRES progress. SAB members actively contributed their thoughts on research challenges, systems integration, and stakeholder engagement, reflecting the strategic drivers for change set by Chris Skidmore and Lisa Trickett.

The day concluded with a cross-hub debriefing session, where valuable insights and learnings were shared. Prof. Tim Mays and Prof. Sara Walker warmly thanked all attendees and closed the meetings.

Both days of the EPSRC Hydrogen Hubs Launch event were marked by collaboration, knowledge sharing, and a shared commitment to advancing hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels research for a sustainable future. The event served as a vital stepping stone towards achieving the goals of the Hydrogen Hubs and their mission to drive innovation in the hydrogen sector.

Please download a personal letter from Prof Tim Mays, Director and PI of UK-HyRES, confirming early details of the new EPSRC Hub.   We are especially keen to ”spread the message” far and wide, including to individuals and organisations who may not be aware of UK-HyRES nor the opportunities of association.  In which case would you please forward the letter to your networks.  We appreciate the risks (and sincerely apologise for) any x-posting. 

Thank you and kind regards,

UK-HyRES Administration Team

We are delighted to finally be able to announce, after receiving excellent feedback from the EPSRC, that the UK-HyRES Hub proposal was successful and we have now formally begun our initial five year funding window (June 2023 – June 2028) . Once again many thanks to the entire community for supporting us in putting together this ambitious research hub. Please bear with us as we begin this second phase, further details will be released soon. We are particularly focused on updating the community on our substantial flexible project fund and developing ways we can work together to deliver tangible impact.

Read the UKRI press release >

Read the University of Bath Press Release >

Read the University of Warwick Press Release >

Read The University of Sheffield Press Release

We are pleased to announce, following the positive feedback received from the EPSRC, that the UK-HyRES Hub proposal has been successful. As a result, we have officially commenced our initial five-year funding period.

We would like to express our gratitude to the entire community for their support in creating this ambitious research hub. We kindly ask for your patience as we enter this next phase, as more information will be shared soon. Our main priority is to provide the community with updates on our significant flexible project fund and explore collaborative opportunities to achieve real-world impact.

1. New member of the Carbon Trust’s CHIP (Clean Hydrogen Innovation Programme) Advisory Committee.
2. Attended by invitation a Net Zero meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Western Gateway in Portcullis House, Westminster on 11/7/23.
3. Attended by invitation a meeting of the US/UK R&D Action Plan Working Group 2 (reactor technologies) Nuclear Hydrogen Modelling Workshop on 11/7/23.
4. Joined DESNZ’s new Hydrogen Delivery Council’s Jobs, Skills and Supply Chains Working Group on 11/7/23.