Apply for funding to research zero emission hydrogen production and integration.
You must be a UK-based researcher who:
The full economic cost of your project can be up to £312,500. We will fund 80% of the full economic cost.
Projects can last up to 18 months.
This opportunity will not fund hydrogen research related to:
Standard EPSRC eligibility rules apply.
Research grants are open to:
Check if your institution can apply for funding
You can apply if you are resident in the UK and meet at least one of the conditions below:
Holders of postdoctoral level fellowships are not eligible to apply for an EPSRC grant.
Submissions to this opportunity will count towards the EPSRC Repeatedly Unsuccessful Applicants Policy.
Hydrogen and hydrogen-based, low-carbon liquid fuels (such as ammonia) are essential for the UK to reach net-zero greenhouse gases by 2050. There is growing consensus of its role in the deep decarbonisation of all sectors of the UK economy and is exemplified by the anticipated publication of the UK Hydrogen Strategy.
We are looking to fund proposals which will develop solutions to:
We are looking to fund up to eight projects of 18 months duration.
Proposals funded as part of this opportunity will generate a platform of research and outcomes in key priority areas upon which the hydrogen research coordinators (funded as part of the ‘hydrogen research coordinators’ opportunity) can further develop in their respective centres, subject to future funding.
Therefore, the recipients of funding associated with this opportunity will be required to:
Please note however, that no commitment has been made to providing follow-on funding through the Hydrogen Research Coordinators Centre development. This is subject to the identified programme requirements and securing future funding.
Research into forms of zero emission hydrogen production are included. In particular, research related to the production of hydrogen through electrolysis powered by renewable energy (also known as green hydrogen) is encouraged.
Examples of zero emission hydrogen production for the purposes of this call, are defined as those which do not produce any CO2 as part of the hydrogen production process. Engineering and physical sciences research to address the challenges associated with the production routes listed below are included but not limited to:
It is the intention of this opportunity to fund hydrogen production techniques which do not emit greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the production of hydrogen through techniques which produce CO2 or any other greenhouse gases as part of the production process, for example steam methane reforming, are not in scope.
As such, any hydrogen production technologies that emit CO2 which is subsequently captured and stored (for example steam methane reforming coupled with carbon capture and storage) are also not in the scope of this opportunity.
‘Integration’ can be taken to mean integration within whole energy systems that can include whole systems integration across technologies, technology coupling requirements and international settings.
The scope of this opportunity is limited to engineering and physical sciences research. The majority of the project must be in the remit of EPSRC. Proposals that do not fall within EPSRC remit or are not within the scope of the low emission hydrogen production and integration areas described will be rejected.
We will consider cross-disciplinary projects that contain elements of such that contribute to the production or integration of zero emission hydrogen.
There is up to £2 million of EPSRC funding available to support up to eight individual projects. Individual projects may be up to £312,500 full economic cost, of which EPSRC will fund up to £250,000 (80% full economic cost).
Equipment over £10,000 in value (including VAT) is not available through this opportunity. Smaller items of equipment (individually under £10,000) should be in the ‘directly incurred – other costs’ heading.
Applicants should ensure they are aware of and comply with any internal institutional deadlines that may be in place. You should prepare and submit your proposal using the research councils’ Joint Electronic Submission system (Je-S).
When adding a new proposal, you should go to documents, select ‘new document’, then select:
After completing the application, you must ‘submit document’ which will send your application to your host organisation’s administration
Your host organisation’s administration is required to complete the submission process. Applicants should allow sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process between submitting your proposal to them and the call closing date.
EPSRC must receive your application by 16:00 on 2 November 2021.
As well as the Je-S application form, the following documents must be submitted.
Up to a maximum of eight pages of A4:
One side of A4.
The work programme should be illustrated with a simple diagrammatic work plan, such as a programme evaluation and review technique (PERT) or Gantt chart.
Up to two sides of A4.
This should be a two-page narrative description of the need for the resources requested. Please ensure you justify all of the resources you request.
Up to two sides of A4 each for:
No page limit.
These must be included from all listed project partners, be signed, dated (no more than six months before the opportunity closing date) and on letterheaded paper. The letter or letters must include an outline of how the project partner involvement helps to enhance the quality of proposed multidisciplinary research.
Up to two sides of A4.
This letter will only be seen internally by UKRI.
Applicants can express any other information they feel is relevant to their application.
You should attach your documents as PDFs to avoid errors. They should be completed in single-spaced Arial 11 font or similar-sized sans serif typeface
EPSRC will not fund a project if it believes that there are ethical concerns that have been overlooked or not appropriately accounted for. All relevant parts of the ‘ethical information’ section must be completed.
Further guidance on completing the Je-S form.
EPSRC guidance can be found under ‘additional information’.
Proposals will not undergo postal peer review but will be assessed by an expert panel of reviewers. The panel reviews, completed ahead of the panel meeting, will be shared with applicants. Applicants will have the opportunity to respond to comments in writing prior to the panel convening.
At the panel meeting, the panel will rank proposals against the assessment criteria and will be asked to make funding recommendations to EPSRC. EPSRC will decide on the number of proposals to fund within each category based on the quality of proposals and the available funding, ensuring a balanced portfolio of research is supported through this activity. Applicants will be informed of the panel outcomes as soon as possible after the panel meeting.
Individual feedback following the panel meeting will not be provided as part of this opportunity. However, applicants will get a chance to respond to the reviewers comments prior to the panel.
The panel will be composed of stakeholders with specific expertise in hydrogen production and whole systems integration techniques, as well as those with a broad overview of the hydrogen energy research area with expertise in the call area.
In the event of this opportunity being substantially oversubscribed as to be unmanageable, UKRI reserve the right to modify the assessment process.
Proposals submitted to this opportunity will be assessed on their fit to the scope of the opportunity and to the criteria listed below. Please note that EPSRC reserves the right to reject proposals which are considered out of the remit of this call without reference to peer review.
Please comment on the degree of research excellence of the proposal, making reference to:
Make reference to:
Comment on the national importance of the research. How it:
Please comment on the applicant’s ability to deliver the proposed project, making reference to:
Please comment on the effectiveness of the proposed planning and management and whether the requested resources are appropriate and have been fully justified, making reference to:
For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.
Email: james.tarver@epsrc.ukri.org
Telephone: 07395 798 806
Email: andrew.eustace@epsrc.ukri.org
Telephone: 07738260033
Email: energy@epsrc.ukri.org
Email: energypeerreview@epsrc.ukri.org
Any queries regarding the submission of proposals through Je-S should be directed to the Je-S helpdesk.
Email: jeshelp@je-s.ukri.org
Telephone: 01793 444164
Opening times:
Hydrogen and hydrogen-based, low carbon liquid fuels (such as ammonia) are essential for the UK to reach net-zero greenhouse gases by 2050. There is growing consensus of the role of hydrogen in the decarbonisation of many sectors of the UK economy, and is exemplified by the publication of the UK hydrogen strategy.
Convergence of UK academic strength, policy need, technology maturity and business readiness in the UK means the time is ripe to secure:
There are a number of production routes in existence which have been shown to be able to produce hydrogen whilst emitting low or no levels of greenhouse gases. However, many of these techniques still require further research and development:
There may also be new technologies which could advance low and zero-emission hydrogen production.
Hydrogen is not a ‘silver bullet’ to our energy needs or emissions reduction challenges. It is likely to be used in combination with electrification and other energy sources in a future energy system in the UK. It will be part of a suite of energy solutions which will help the UK reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Therefore, it is important that we understand how to use and integrate hydrogen alongside other energy technologies, and ensure they work in harmony together to meet the UK’s future energy needs.
The report (June 2019) from the Committee for Climate Change states:
The UK should set and vigorously pursue an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) to ‘net zero’ by 2050, ending the UK’s contribution to global warming within 30 years.
It acknowledges:
This target is only credible if policy to reduce emissions ramps up significantly.
This will require adoption of gas and liquid energy forms to meet energy needs that cannot be met through electrification across multiple sectors, and hydrogen in particular is highlighted by the report. In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050.
In any future scenario three things will be critical:
Growth of a new hydrogen economy is required as a solution for our energy needs that are not readily compatible with electrification. Hydrogen can be used as:
As an alternative fuel it will also increase the resilience of the UK’s energy system.
A three-pronged approach to hydrogen and its alternative fuels is essential to:
The following independent evidence and validation make the case for UK investment now.
Hydrogen is identified as one of the three pathways to 2050 being presented in the UK’s Clean Growth Strategy, with a potential hydrogen demand of roughly 700 TWh by 2050.
The Royal Society published a policy briefing on green hydrogen production in 2018, in response to the UK government’s request to assess the different technological options of large-scale hydrogen production and their economic viabilities. It highlights that hydrogen has the potential to decarbonise domestic industry, transport and heat.
The recent EU Hydrogen Strategy (2020), published alongside the EU Strategy for Energy System Integration, recognises that these sectors (domestic, industry, transport and heat) are the lead markets for hydrogen production.
Although it also has the potential to contribute to wider sectors, for example through its use in land transport or as a feedstock for chemical production such as ammonia, methanol and kerosene for the shipping, agriculture, steel and aviation sectors respectively. The demand for hydrogen in the energy sector will grow substantially towards 2050, provided the following are in place:
The Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has set out the UK’s capacity to support both green and blue hydrogen production. This twin track approach is set out in the UK hydrogen strategy.
It is recognised that we will need to build blue capacity now while developing capacity for deployment of green hydrogen in the longer term.
This opportunity solely focuses on the ‘green’ or non-greenhouse gas emitting methods of hydrogen production related to this twin-track approach.
Hydrogen is a cross-cutting low-carbon form of energy, whose benefits are best realised when looking both within and across sectors noting that innovations in one part of the value chain (for example end-use technologies) have implications for the rest of the chain, implying the need for an integrated approach.
To date, UKRI has invested in hydrogen primarily through the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Supergen Hub (H2FC). The hub has been instrumental in addressing key challenges facing the hydrogen and fuel cell sector. Thus, has provided the necessary platform and focus for the development of potential subsequent hydrogen research centres which will be able to support the community at the necessary scale to help the UK reach its net-zero emissions targets by 2050.
The UKRI Energy Programme has identified hydrogen as a priority and sees huge opportunity in investment at scale to support the growth of a new hydrogen economy in the UK through a coordinated national effort.
Alongside this call for research proposals EPSRC has launched a call for two hydrogen coordinators who will develop a consortium and programme of research for respective hydrogen research centres in 2022, subject to additional funding, and the identified programme requirements. These potential centres are expected to tackle:
This call for hydrogen production and integration research proposals will create a platform of research and outcomes in key priority areas on which the centres will be able to build upon in low carbon hydrogen production, and its whole systems integration into the energy system.
Hydrogen production through steam-methane reforming and CCS is not included as part of this call, but forms of zero greenhouse gas emitting hydrogen production methods are included.
In particular, research related to the production of hydrogen through electrolysis powered by renewable energy (also known as green hydrogen) is encouraged.
EPSRC is fully committed to develop and promote responsible innovation. Research has the ability to not only produce understanding, knowledge and value, but also unintended:
We recognise that we have a duty of care to promote approaches to responsible innovation that will initiate ongoing reflection about the potential ethical and societal implications of the research that we sponsor and to encourage our research community to do likewise. Therefore applicants are expected to work within the EPSRC Framework for Responsible Innovation.
Applicants planning to include international collaborators on their proposal should visit Trusted Research for information and advice on how to get the most out of international collaboration whilst protecting intellectual property, sensitive research and personal information.
