What is HYDERUS?
The Hydrogen Decentralised Energy Utilisation and Storage (HYDERUS) project is a 12 month partnership project that will develop and demonstrate a decarbonised combined heat and power (CHP) system within the FLEXIS Demonstration Area and South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC). At the core of the HYDERUS project is an 
What does the project hope to achieve?
With support from its industrial partners, the project aims to build confidence in the hydrogen transition by developing and evaluating project models, hydrogen production and combustion methods and CHP demand centres. This includes the most cost-effective design, construction and operation of the gas turbine and exploring the possibility of a decarbonised energy supply, ultimately using 100% hydrogen, to a local school.
Developed by FLEXIS researcher Dr. Jon Runyon, who was approached by Aurelia Turbines through the European Turbine Network, HYDERUS will apply fundamental understanding about hydrogen combustion advanced by the FLEXIS project in a real-world application through FLEXISApp.
HYDERUS will also shape a decarbonised CHP system for demonstration at Cardiff University’s Gas Turbine Research Centre. It is hoped this will also feature at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) hosted here in the UK in November 2021. This system could be the first of its kind demonstrating combined heat and power gas turbine operating on a blend of natural gas and hydrogen, up to 100% hydrogen operation. This level of fuel flexibility has not yet been demonstrated in a gas turbine combustion system, although other projects in Europe (e.g. EU H2020 HYFLEXPOWER) are taking steps in this direction.
Following its activity, the project will provide a roadmap for decentralised, decarbonised hydrogen production, storage and utilisation. This data will be shared with stakeholders, including the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) to help tackle industrial decarbonisation with the UK’s industrial clusters and meet governments’ 2050 net zero targets.
Partners
By December 2021, this project will have:
- Evaluated localised hydrogen delivery, production and storage with industrial partners
- Produced detailed energy data analysis of locations within the FLEXIS Demonstration Area, which will be critical for identifying possible decarbonized CHP applications for future investment.
- Explored the possibility of a direct delivery of decarbonised electricity from the CHP to local Neath-Port Talbot demand centres e.g. schools
- Provided an interactive training tool and conducted local community engagement, increasing awareness and confidence in hydrogen by delivering CO2 reduction benefits to the local community and Neath-Port Talbot council.
- Submitted an application for future funding for a multi-million pound demonstrator project
“After evaluating its possibilities with industry and hopefully demonstrating these technologies at COP26, this project aims to build confidence in the transition to a hydrogen-based economy as well as decarbonised power generation in the FLEXIS demonstration area, the South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC), the other UK industrial clusters and globally.
Hydrogen production and utilisation are key components of the SWIC strategy to deliver CO2 reductions in Wales, and this project will align with that strategy while also informing other industrial decarbonisation clusters in the UK in the push towards the UK government’s targets of net-zero by 2050.”
Principal Investigator, Phil Bowen,
“This project and the objectives set by the partners is fundamental to our company strategy and goals.
We see hydrogen as a fuel not just for the future but for the near future and we are delighted to be playing our part in this very important initiative.”
Matti Malkamäki, CEO and Founder of Aurelia Turbines Oy
If you would like to find out more or be involved with this project, please do let us know.
