Q: Could you briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience related to the focus of this event?

Helen Leadbetter, Civil Aviation Authority (HL): I am the CAA's Technical Strategy Lead for Zero Emission Flight, this includes responsibility for the Hydrogen Challenge including conducting sandbox activities with industry and academia to identify risks, challenges, hazards and opportunities for the introduction of hydrogen as an aviation fuel.

Johana Lorena Duran-Santos, SGN (JS): I am a Project Manager at SGN’s Future of Energy Department, where I lead innovative R&D initiatives aiming to drive the decarbonisation of the UK gas network. My work focuses on demonstrating viable, future-ready energy solutions to meet Net Zero. Committed to developing a sustainable hydrogen value chain, I am passionate about advancing the hydrogen economy and understanding and unlocking its potential in the UK.

Graham Smith, National Physical Laboratory (GS): I'm a Principal Scientist at the UK's National Physical Laboratory, a national lab. My team and I support industry and academia in the development and deployment of electrolysers and fuel cells, both of these are key electrochemical technologies required to produce hydrogen from renewable electricity and turn hydrogen into electricity efficiently.

Michael Dicker, Actuation Lab (MD): For the past 2 years my company Actuation Lab has been funded on a series of government contracts to develop a new generation of valve, one specifically created for the safe handling of both gaseous and cryogenic hydrogen.

Mark Griffin, Scottish Power Green Hydrogen (MG): I work for Scottish Power Green Hydrogen as Hydrogen Development Manager. I lead the businesses development strategy for both green hydrogen production projects and also offtaker supply opportunities. I support organisations looking to decarbonise their existing and new processes with green hydrogen, which can be produced on-site or distributed regionally from a centralised plant.

Francesco Fanicchia, Cranfield University (FF): Development of components for the hydrogen economy brings significant material challenges, from embrittlement due to the direct interaction of hydrogen with materials to issues with end use, such as water vapour enhanced oxidation of materials in hydrogen-fuelled engines. In my previous role in industry and my current role as a university senior lecturer, I devise and coordinate projects related to hydrogen-material interaction challenges with focus on aerospace applications.

Javier Rubio Barragan, Regional Government of Andalusia, Spain (JB): As a mechanical engineer with extensive experience in energy and environmental projects, I lead the development and approval of green hydrogen initiatives, including Spain's first off-grid hydrogen project. My role involves navigating complex environmental regulations, fostering international collaboration, and driving innovative solutions in sustainable energy, making this event's focus directly aligned with my expertise.

Q: What, in your experience, has been the biggest roadblock for the industry over the past 2-3 years?

HL: The biggest challenge to the industry is that regulations for hydrogen technologies do not currently exist. Due to this collaboration and early engagement with industry is important to understand these new technologies, the gaps in current regulation and the framework required to create appropriate regulation that is fit for purpose.

JS: The potential of hydrogen as a safe and viable solution to decarbonise gas networks is being actively explored in the UK and other countries around the world. SGN, in collaboration with other gas networks, is at the forefront of initiatives providing robust evidence to demonstrate how natural gas networks can evolve into a hydrogen-based system in the future. It has been an exciting journey that started more than 4 years ago, however, this work directly contributed to the UK government’s announcement in 2023 on 20% hydrogen blends. While significant progress has been made, further research is vital to support the government’s Hydrogen Heat Policy decision in 2026 and unlock the full potential of hydrogen as key energy source for the gas network.

GS: The hydrogen industry has been moving fast for the last few years. One roadblock we're working to overcome is the lack of accessible testing capability for electrolysers, fuel cells and other hydrogen technologies.

MD: Perhaps one of the biggest roadblocks to our development has been timely, cost effective access to hydrogen test facilities. Particularly with regards to cryogenic hydrogen, we have found UK test facilities to be limited.

MG: Decarbonisation poses significant costs to businesses, a fact that has not always been transparent. With support from the UK Government and other entities, these costs can be mitigated through subsidy mechanisms. However, the reality remains that this transition will not be cheaper than current fuels, and some businesses struggle to see the value in decarbonisation or how to calculate it.

FF: In aerospace, as the viability of combusting hydrogen has been proven, the current big challenge is to select (or design if one can't be selected) the right materials, able to operate continuously in a hydrogen atmosphere. Material challenges have been identified in hydrogen storage, distribution, and gas turbine components. Hydrogen permeation in particular, represents a significant risk as it can lead to hydrogen embrittlement, loss of hydrogen or even risks of explosion.

JB: The biggest roadblock has been the slow pace of regulatory adaptation to match the rapid evolution of green energy technologies. Insufficient infrastructure and limited financial incentives for large-scale hydrogen projects have also hindered progress, particularly in ensuring seamless international cooperation and alignment with sustainability goals.

Q: What key topics are you excited to discuss at this year's conference?

HL: I am interested in discussing hydrogen infrastructure for airports and the use of hydrogen combustion and fuel cell technologies on aircrafts and what we can learn from industries already using this type of technologies.

JS: I am particularly interested in advancements in sustainable hydrogen production, storage, and measurement and control systems for the future.

GS: - How to make the UK a competitive location for the development and manufacturing of clean hydrogen technology.
- How national laboratories and measurement facilities can help with participant's work.

MD: I'm looking forward to getting a sense for the industry trajectory, where and when are the big high output projects coming.

MG: Hydrogen distribution and transmission are crucial for large-scale decarbonisation, especially for sectors aiming to utilise green hydrogen. While road trailer distribution is viable for small-scale projects, it becomes less economical for larger projects. Therefore, collaboration with gas networks is essential to develop and implement hydrogen pipelines.

Additionally, the development of hydrogen derivatives presents a significant opportunity for the UK. These derivatives can be used to decarbonise major emitters and, with a strong production pathway, could attract industries back to the UK to manufacture products that had previously moved abroad.

FF: This year I will be talking about hydrogen permeation, including it's theoretical framework and what makes certain materials more permeable than others. I will be also providing some considerations regarding hydrogen permeation barrier coatings, which could represent an economical solution to speed up the uptake of the hydrogen economy.

JB: I am particularly excited to discuss advancements in green hydrogen technologies, the challenges of integrating renewable energy with hydrogen production, and innovative approaches to transnational energy exchange. Exploring how regulations and public-private partnerships can foster a robust hydrogen economy is another key topic of interest.

Q: What do you consider to be the key areas of innovation in this industry, both in the UK and internationally?

HL: The key areas of innovation in the aviation industry are around hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen combustion using gaseous and liquid hydrogen.

JS: The need for updated regulations, enhanced hydrogen production and storage systems, strategic planning, and an evolved commercial framework are key aspects required to incentivise market stability, secure investment, and accelerate the injection of hydrogen into the gas network.

GS: The key challenge in the hydrogen economy is being able to produce hydrogen from renewable energy at the lowest possible cost and at scale. The key areas of innovation are therefore around development of more efficient and lower cost electrolysers made from materials that are widely abundant.

MD: New technologies like high efficiency green hydrogen generation and systems that can exploit intermittent renewables are things that are at the forefront of my mind for scaling the industry, but I also think there are a host of innovations at the component level that are aimed at improving overall system reliability (up time), new components designed for hydrogen, not just adapted from natural gas, which will have a big impact in the coming years.

MG: I think the way in which we can access renewable energy from the grid is fundamental to how successful we can be and how quickly we can achieve our aims. If this cannot be resolved, which can also bring benefits to the local grids, then we will be stuck in a period on inactivity or small growth, due to availability of power.

FF: Innovations in materials for liquid hydrogen storage and distribution, including valves, bearings etc. represent significant challenges currently to the industry, where more work is required. Standardisation in permeation and more generally hydrogen embrittlement testing is also fundamental to quickly advance the industry.

JB: Key areas of innovation include advancements in electrolyser efficiency, circular economy practices, and grid-independent energy solutions. Internationally, the development of hydrogen storage and transport systems, as well as cross-border collaborations to create hydrogen corridors, are transformative initiatives shaping the industry's future.

Q: Who else are you most interested in hearing from on the programme?

JS: I find all the sessions in the programme to be truly interesting, featuring remarkable individuals. While it is quite difficult to select a single session, I am particularly interested in sessions presenting initiatives that showcase innovation within the hydrogen industry.

MD: I'm looking forward to the talks on hydrogen aviation, although there are some big challenges in making that a reality, it's a really exciting application area for hydrogen technology.

MG: I am looking forward to hearing from Helen Leadbetter from the CAA, I think the approach they have taken around their SAF mandate is something that seems to work, from an industry some years ago that was pushing for emissions exemptions, as replacing jet fuel was too challenging.

FF: I am very interested in hearing innovations in materials, testing and hydrogen engines, such as heavy duty engines.

JB: I’m particularly interested in hearing from policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers who are driving innovative hydrogen projects. Insights from those involved in pioneering UK initiatives and global case studies will provide valuable perspectives for the challenges we face.

Q: Why is it important for engineers to join this conference?

HL: It is important for engineers to join this conference to understand, learn and share knowledge of the new hydrogen technologies that are being designed and how they will be developed, manufactured, tested, validated and integrated safely into the existing aviation ecosystem.

JS: Attending the event would provide engineers with an invaluable opportunity to gain insights into recent advancements in the industry while offering a clear understanding of current trends. This will ultimately allow professionals to identify areas for further development. In addition, it offers a platform for networking and exchanging ideas on opportunities that will be crucial for the future.

GS: Hydrogen technologies are required for the UK and the world to tackle climate change while prospering economically. Engineers are critical in tacking the many challenging problems we're facing as we develop a new way of fuelling the world.

MD: There is a lot for us engineers to do on the energy transition, and this is a great forum to get up to speed with what is happening in the hydrogen space.

MG: A large part of our success in the decarbonisation of the UK, in line with government targets, is skilled workforces to help us design, implement and operate these facilities and distribution networks for the foreseeable future. We can demonstrate where the opportunities for engineers in the UK are and how they can have a successful and meaningful role to play.

FF: The conference provides a state of the art picture of the engineering challenges and solutions to the hydrogen economy. It is fundamental to attend to network and keep up to date.

JB: This conference offers engineers a unique platform to share knowledge, learn from leading-edge innovations, and collaborate on solutions to global challenges in sustainable energy. It empowers engineers to play a pivotal role in shaping a carbon-neutral future by integrating practical solutions and strategic thinking.

The Engineering a Hydrogen Economy conference will be taking place on 4-5 March 2025 at Millennium Point in Birmingham.

Join this conference to:

Hear case studies from mature projects addressing infrastructure challenges for production, storage and distribution
Identify bottlenecks and barriers in moving to a hydrogen economy
Develop your understanding of the utilisation across different engineering sectors including rail, heavy-duty, aerospace, power generation, marine and more
Hear from leading experts in the field and explore opportunities to collaborate on new projects
Gain insight into gaps in the market and requirements for new technology
Take away lessons learned from other innovative companies to ensure optimal development strategies
Understand how your existing equipment or products can be deployed in the new hydrogen economy

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Source: https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/engineering-a-hydrogen-economy-roundtable-interview-with-seven-of-our-conference-speakers

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