A new initiative to establish a sustainable hydrogen distribution network in Scotland and across the UK has commenced at the University of Aberdeen. The project, titled New Materials and Methods for Hydrogen Transportation and Storage: Repurposing the Economic Future of the North Sea (MHYSTIC), aims to leverage existing energy assets and expertise to develop innovative solutions to enhance the UK's hydrogen infrastructure.
The MHYSTIC project is backed by international collaborators, including the Lithuanian Energy Institute, and industry partners such as Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, ABL Group, the European Marine Energy Centre, the Net Zero Technology Centre, John Lawrie Group, Statera Energy, and Dräger Ltd. These organizations will contribute to advancing research outputs and applications related to hydrogen distribution and storage.
The initiative is one of ten selected for funding under the UK-HyRES Flexible Fund, which supports groundbreaking projects in hydrogen and alternative fuels technology. Collectively, nearly £3 million has been allocated to these projects, all aimed at accelerating the UK's transition to hydrogen as part of its broader clean energy strategy.
Dr. Alfonso Martinez-Felipe from the University of Aberdeen's School of Engineering commented: “MHYSTIC is one of the only ten projects funded in this first round of applications and will have research, commercial, and societal impacts by transferring its innovations to productive actors involved in the project.”
The project will focus on understanding the mechanisms of hydrogen adsorption and material failure, which will aid in advancing the safe storage and transportation of hydrogen. “Being the smallest molecule, hydrogen is prone to leakage. It also embrittles steel,” said Professor John Underhill, Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Transition at the University of Aberdeen. “Consequently, it's essential to find new materials for hydrogen's safe and secure storage and transportation if it is to play a role in the energy transition, something this research will address.”
The project is expected to run for 2.5 years and aims to play a key role in implementing hydrogen economies in Scotland and the UK.
