Hydrogen Centre Visit for Climate Change Champ

April 2, 2009

An environmental champion from Stroud travelled across the Severn Bridge this week to discover how a Welsh University is producing hydrogen from renewable sources.

Seventeen year-old Hagar Niblett, is a British Council International Climate Champion for the UK and as part of his role he visited the University of Glamorgan’s Hydrogen Centre where the University’s Professor Alan Guwy is a partner and mentor to the British Council’s climate change project, Low Carbon Futures-Challenge Europe.

A pupil at the Downfield 6th Form College at Marling School in Stroud, Hagar was chosen for the prestigious role as an International Climate Champion in February this year.

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.

Hagar said, “I have been focusing my attention on Green Travel Month which starts on 1st June, so the trip to the Hydrogen Centre was an ideal opportunity to find out how we can use alternative sources of energy for transport.

“As part of my role I am working with other groups in Stroud, such as Changing Gear and Transition Stroud to change the way people live their lives, and encouraging them to make small changes, for example they way they travel to work. The work at the Hydrogen Centre is very much linked into this agenda.

“I was very impressed with not only the facilities and ground breaking research, but also the enthusiasm that we were met with. We are hoping to return with other students who are currently working on a project on ‘travel’ so that they can find out more about reducing the amount of fuel we use and the need for new, alternative means of transportation.”

Hagar was accompanied on his visit by Thomas Lydon, Chair of the Stroud Youth Council who has the remit for regeneration and green issues.

Professor Alan Guwy of the University’s Faculty for Health, Sport and Science said, “Hagar showed great interest in our pioneering work at the Hydrogen Centre and we were pleased to welcome him to Baglan. I look forward to working with him in his role as an International Climate Champion in the future.”

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