This is how the University of Manchester is working on recovering hydrogen from waste

A research team at the University of Manchester has recently received government funding to organise a collaboration with Powerhouse Energy, which specialises in treating non-recyclable waste to recover hydrogen for clean energy use. “During this project, experts will develop a new hydrogen separation technique,” the University said in a press release.

Advanced treatment

Designing an advanced thermal treatment to recover hydrogen fuel from non-recyclable waste could make a major contribution to the UK’s Net Zero targets. It can also have a positive impact on the financial aspect: cost reduction compared to conventional recovery methods makes the process greener and cheaper.

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The UK hydrogen strategy aims to innovate low-carbon solutions that will be essential to the country’s Net Zero transition and build a thriving hydrogen economy. The strategy aims to achieve five gigawatts of low-carbon hydrogen fuel production capacity by 2030. This development of a hydrogen economy in the UK is estimated to be worth £900 million and will create 9,000 additional jobs by 2030.

Potential

Paul Emmitt, the COO at Powerhouse Energy, concluded: ‘The invention has the potential to overcome a major cost barrier to commercial hydrogen extraction from syngas (synthesis gas mixture containing hydrogen that can be used as fuel). And could even develop more facilities for the same available capital.