UK’s First Hydrogen Demonstration Centre Opens
October 8, 2008
The use of hydrogen as a renewable fuel source will come a step closer this week (9th October) with the opening of a pioneering hydrogen energy research and demonstration centre by the University of Glamorgan.
Based at Baglan Energy Park near Swansea, the £2.2 million ‘Hydrogen Centre’ demonstrates the viability and safety of producing hydrogen from indigenous renewable resources in Wales.
Utilising renewable hydrogen as a fuel has the potential to address the increasingly prevalent issues of energy security, air quality and the reduction of greenhouse gases.
The Centre, part of Faculty of Health, Sport and Science, will become a world leading research facility and demonstration project integrating renewable energy technologies (solar photovoltaic and wind) with hydrogen and fuel cell energy technologies.
Recognising the significance of the opening of the Centre, car manufacturer Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. will be bringing its hydrogen-powered vehicle the ‘FCV X-Trail’ to Wales for the very first time. During the launch event, First Minister Rhodri Morgan will take the opportunity to drive the vehicle.
Professor Dennis Hawkes who is leading the project explained, “Rather than an isolated one-off demonstration, this Centre provides the basis for a range of hydrogen energy and transport activities. The project puts Wales at the forefront of European efforts to develop hydrogen communities. The new centre brings together technology and expertise and will provide a platform for new business development, growth and employment in the region.”
His colleague Jon Maddy continued, “Hydrogen has the potential to play a significant part in overcoming increased dependency on the diminishing resource of imported fossil fuels. Wales has an abundance of natural energy resources and this project will research and demonstrate the link between these renewables and the role of hydrogen energy.”
The opening of the Centre builds of the wealth of hydrogen energy projects already underway at the University of Glamorgan. Earlier this year, the University launched the UK’s first minibus to be powered by a fuel cell using hydrogen as its fuel and the University has a number of world-leading pilot scale biohydrogen projects.
The First Minister said: “Hydrogen provides a potential solution to a number of the most significant energy challenges that we face today and can therefore help to address climate change and reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.
“Wales is one of the leaders in researching the development of technology, and I am most impressed at the level of technology and expertise in this field that exists in the centre
“Now, global companies like Nissan are recognising the importance of this facility. Companies like Nissan play a vital role doing the research and development move onto the creation of every-day vehicles that can use hydrogen fuel cell technology. That is how the world class research that takes place here is turned into a reality.”
This unique centre will open up a number of opportunities for academic and industry research as well as prospects for public demonstration and organisational training.
The building is multi-functional. As well as the hydrogen research facilities, the centre can also host conferencing, demonstration and education activities.
Developed by the University of Glamorgan with part funding from the European Regional Development Fund, the building of the Centre was supported by Neath Port Talbot Council and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Working with the University at the centre, companies will be able to research, develop and demonstrate hydrogen related products and technologies. This has the potential to generate new, highly skilled jobs in an emerging hydrogen economy.
Once up and running the Centre will also welcome diverse groups from school children to academics who will be able to discover more about how hydrogen is produced from renewable sources.
