Navigating hydrogen adoption for net zero

This initial stage marks the beginning of the user’s journey towards adopting hydrogen. Here, individuals or organisations become aware of the potential of hydrogen in addressing their net zero challenges. They begin to explore the concept and its relevance to their work.

Reflective questions:

• How does hydrogen align with our net zero goals and organisational objectives?
• What are the drivers in exploring hydrogen solutions for our net zero journey?
• What additional information or expertise do I need to fully grasp the implications of adopting hydrogen?

• Read more: Dive deeper into the case for low carbon hydrogen by exploring The UK Hydrogen Innovation Opportunity report by Hydrogen Innovation Initiative.
• Watch this video to find out How hydrogen can help the UK reach Net Zero.

At this stage, individuals or organisations explore the practical uses of hydrogen. They explore the different areas where hydrogen could effectively be used and evaluate its advantages. This exploration may include researching hydrogen-powered transportation, exploring hydrogen for heating solutions or innovative applications in renewable energy.

Reflective questions:

• Where in our operations could hydrogen technology be effectively applied?
• What metrics can we use to evaluate the success of integrating hydrogen technology into our processes?

• Explore case studies developed by Hydrogen Europe on how hydrogen is being integrated in various sectors across Europe.
• Read this report by the National Grid on The critical role of hydrogen in our clean energy future to uncover its potential to decarbonize multiple sectors in the UK and US.
• Gain insights into hydrogen applications worldwide and discover its future development in The Future of Hydrogen report by International Energy Agency (IEA).

At this third stage, organisations should look to conduct a thorough assessment of the feasibility of implementing hydrogen solutions. This includes evaluating technical requirements, economic viability, and regulatory considerations to determine the practicality and potential challenges associated with hydrogen adoption.

Reflective questions:

• Is hydrogen right for my organisation? Consider what technical, economic, and regulatory factors should be considered when evaluating its feasibility for you.
• Are there specific risks or barriers that could impact the successful implementation of hydrogen solutions within our organisation?

• Examine the safety considerations for using hydrogen as a fuel source by North West Hydrogen Alliance.
• Discover the latest guidance from Environment Agency on how to minimise the environmental impacts of hydrogen production.
• Understand how Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working to ensure the safe distribution, storage and use of 100% hydrogen heating.

Organisations initiate a pilot project to test the feasibility and performance of hydrogen solutions in a controlled environment. This stage allows for the collection of empirical data, identification of scalability factors, and discovery of any unforeseen challenges or opportunities.

Reflective questions:

• What specific objectives do we aim to achieve through the pilot project, and how will we measure success?
• What potential risks or barriers should we anticipate during the pilot phase, and how can we mitigate them?

• Review guidance from Innovate UK on different types of Research and Development (R&D) projects to consider.
• Discover the latest funding opportunities offered by Innovate UK to support innovative pilot projects.

At this critical stage, individuals or organisations affirm their commitment to integrating hydrogen innovations into their operations. This involves developing a detailed roadmap outlining specific objectives, timelines, resource allocations, and stakeholder responsibilities. This roadmap serves as a guide, ensuring a structured approach towards successful integration.

Reflective questions:

• What resources are needed to smoothly transition from piloting to full integration of hydrogen solutions?

• Explore research and analysis supporting hydrogen projects going through the planning system. It covers barriers associated with obtaining planning permissions and potential solutions for addressing these.
• Listen now: Our HydroGenerally Podcast Series explores applications, opportunities and challenges of the hydrogen economy, in a series of 20-minute conversations.

Once the commitment is made in the adoption stage, users transition to implementation. Here, they turn plans into action by deploying projects at scale. This involves actively monitoring key performance indicators and making adjustments as needed to optimise the benefits of hydrogen technology for achieving Net Zero objectives.

Reflective questions:

• What systems or processes should be in place to monitor and optimise the performance of hydrogen solutions during implementation?
• How can we encourage innovation and continuous improvement in our use of hydrogen?

• Learn about the importance of evaluation in project management to maximise impact.
• Discover the latest funding opportunities offered by Innovate UK to support project implementation.

In this phase, the organisation seeks to scale up the adoption of hydrogen technology and share knowledge and best practices with others in the sector. This may involve developing case studies, hosting workshops or webinars, and participating in industry forums to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Reflective questions:

• How can we effectively communicate our successes and lessons learned to others in the industry?
• Are there opportunities for partnership or collaboration to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen innovation?

• Sign up to our Hydrogen Supply Chain Directory for opportunities to showcase your learnings with other end users. Innovate UK Business Connect can facilitate knowledge transfer and introductions for users of the directory.

This final stage involves ongoing efforts to drive innovation and improvement in hydrogen integration. It includes activities such as gathering feedback from users, monitoring performance metrics, and exploring new technologies or approaches to optimise and enhance hydrogen solutions.

Reflective questions:

• How can we leverage feedback and data to identify areas for improvement in our hydrogen solutions?
• What emerging technologies or trends could enhance the effectiveness of hydrogen in the future?

• Participate in innovation challenges across the Innovate UK ecosystem to support continuous improvement such as Innovation Exchange (iX), Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) or via Innovate UK Business Growth.
• Subscribe to our newsletter: Join the Hydrogen Innovation Network Newsletter to receive the latest news, funding opportunities, upcoming events and connect with potential partners.