This proposed Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator Programme would provide funding for innovation projects that can demonstrate end-to-end industrial fuel switching to hydrogen.
Details
We propose to hold an Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator (IHA) competition to support projects generating evidence on end-to-end industrial fuel switching to hydrogen. It would cover the full technology chain, from hydrogen generation and delivery infrastructure through to industrial end-use, including the integration of the components in a single project.
The proposed competition would fund demonstrations and, where needed, feasibility studies:
- the feasibility studies would explore how systems could be designed and provide information on the technical requirements and costs
- the demonstration projects would construct end-to-end industrial hydrogen systems, from hydrogen production to end-use, to prove their feasibility and provide further evidence on the real-world performance and costs
It would form part of the BEIS £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative clean energy technologies and processes through the 2020s and 2030s.
Programme structure
The structure of the programme is subject to change, but the initial proposed design is:
Stream 1: Demonstration – Grant
- a grant funding competition for demonstration projects, aiming to open April 2022
- applicants will need to provide match funding
- we expect projects to be of the order 1-10MW
Stream 2A: Feasibility – SBRI
- an SBRI competition for feasibility studies, aiming to open April 2022
- no match funding required at this point
- winners will be able to bid for a demonstration grant, see Stream 2B
Stream 2B: Demonstration – Grant
- a grant funding competition for demonstration projects
- applicants will need to provide match funding
- Stream 2B follows on from Stream 2A and is open only to projects who have completed feasibility studies in Stream 2A
- we expect projects to be of the order 1-10MW
The evidence generated by the IHA on the use of hydrogen by industrial users would help inform strategic decisions in 2026 on the role of low carbon hydrogen as a replacement for natural gas in the gas grid. For more information on this policy area see the August 2021 UK Hydrogen Strategy.
Expressions of interest
Read more about the proposed Programme and Expression of Interest.
Complete the Expression of Interest Form if you would like to be kept up to date with developments regarding the IHA programme.
You do not have to submit an expression of interest in order to take part in the competition.
This announcement does not formally signify the beginning of a procurement and does not constitute a commitment by BEIS to undertake a procurement exercise. If BEIS does decide to formally commence a procurement or call for proposals, we will issue a separate notice.
Stakeholder Engagement Session, 8 March 2022
We are holding an online stakeholder engagement session on 8 March 2022 for interested parties to find out more about the competition and provide feedback on the proposed programme design.
Register for the online stakeholder engagement session
The session will outline the role of BEIS, NZIP and the Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator programme in meeting the government’s climate objectives, and the policy context surrounding this technology area.
You don’t have to attend the stakeholder engagement session to take part in the tender process.
To ensure a broad range of feedback on the proposed programme design, we encourage potential suppliers across the hydrogen and industrial fuel switching landscape to attend. This includes but is not limited to:
- industrial sites
- hydrogen generation equipment manufacturers / suppliers
- hydrogen end-use equipment manufacturers / suppliers
- hydrogen project developers
- research/ consultancy/ hydrogen experts
We will publish the presentation from the event here, so that if you didn’t attend you can still provide feedback on the proposals.
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