University’s role promoting sustainable energy fuel cells praised in new report
The role that Manchester Met is playing in creating a world-class hydrogen economy in the UK has been highlighted in a major new report from The Royal Society.
In the report, Towards a green hydrogen roadmap for the UK, the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering highlighted Manchester as ‘an example of a regional model for hydrogen strategy development’.
The report illustrates how the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre (MFCIC) at Manchester Met has been a success by fostering co-operation between local authorities in their hydrogen strategy. As hundreds of cities around the world pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2050, the need for clean energy has become increasingly prominent on the global stage.
Greater Manchester aims to become carbon neutral by 2038, an ambitious goal that reflects the region’s commitment to the environment.
A leading force in this campaign is MFCIC. The centre has been visited by international delegations, such as electronics giant Panasonic, and has been established for years as hub for research and hydrogen innovation.
Amer Gaffar, Director of the MFCIC, said: “We have really developed one of the best place-based agendas for hydrogen in the UK now. This has come from that partnership approach over the last decade, where we focus on research, but that research will feed into the development of green technologies, including hydrogen, across the city region.
“Where are the future roles in a hydrogen economy going to come from? If we take the idea that hydrogen is going to be a key part of our net zero journey, then we need to ensure that we provide the right skills, the right courses and the right opportunities for graduates.
“We are not only focusing on innovation in a sector that requires lots of these companies to improve their materials or devices and commercialise them. We also need to ensure that we can provide the workforce that is required to support a global economy that could be worth 8 trillion dollars in 2050.”
The Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering’s report highlight that the transition to a hydrogen economy in the UK will require strategic policy interventions, innovations, and job creation.
As a leading force in hydrogen innovation, researchers and academics from MFCIC have been advisors for multiple inquiries at government level on the role of technologies like hydrogen and fuel cells in a net zero economy.
Manchester Met is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year and is currently highlighting how it drives sustainability in Manchester and around the world.
The University has been a top three sustainable university in the People and Planet University League for over a decade and was last week named runner-up for Sustainable University of the Year in the The Times and Sunday Times university league tables.
