Theme 1: Hydrogen Production
The production of molecular hydrogen is a necessity, as it does not occur naturally to any significant extent. Most hydrogen is currently produced from steam reforming of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuel resources are limited and reform greenhouse gases (CO2). It is proposed that long-term sustainable hydrogen production will be based on biologically inspired processes or water splitting using energy from renewable sources.
The focus of research in Theme 1 is the production of sustainable hydrogen via the (dark) fermentation of biomass. This builds on successful research from Phase 1 of UK-SHEC. It includes the development of a biohydrogen pilot plant facility based at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), which is capable of producing hydrogen from unrefined complex substrates such as grass, fodder maize and sugar beet.
Work will be carried out mainly at the University of Glamorgan, under the direction of Professor Richard Dinsdale.
Highlights include:
- Scale up of production facilities developed in Phase 1;
- Design and development of bioelectrolysis cell to increase the overall hydrogen system yield;
- Integration of the fermentation process into a carbon neutral sustainable system of biomass production/ utilisation operating with maximum energy efficiency; and
- Collaboration with Consortium partners on how hydrogen may be purified.