Totally clean and green: Scots scientists pave the way for hydrogen fuels

Published on 27/01/2011 17:05

SCOTTISH scientists have made a breakthrough which could which could pave the way for the use of hydrogen-based fuels to power aeroplanes and cars.

Researchers from Glasgow University, working with the commercial firm EADS Innovation Works, are developing technology which could allow the highly explosive gas to be used safely as a form of green fuel.

The group is working on using nanotechnology to improve the efficiency of the Hydrisafe tank developed by Hydrogen Horizons, a small Scottish company, to store hydrogen in a solid state.

The gas can be burned to release energy, or combined with oxygen in a fuel cell to produce electricity. In both cases, the only waste product is water - meaning it could become a clean alternative to powering aircraft and car engines.

However, it can be expensive and difficult to store safely.

Duncan Gregory, professor of inorganic materials at the university's school of chemistry, said: "The largest bottleneck in the process of realising hydrogen-based technologies is storage. Finding a viable means of storing hydrogen in the solid state would pave the way for its industrial-scale use as a clean alternative to hydrocarbon-based fuels in aeroplanes.

"This exciting technology could deliver a genuine paradigm shift in aviation transport that will have immense benefits to the environment in terms of significantly reducing carbon emissions."

The scientists will modify the composition and microstructure of the tank and hydrogen storage materials through nanotechnology, allowing it to be stored safely in its solid form.

Dr Agata Godula-Jopek of EADS IW said "One of the visions for 2020 is to reduce emissions per aircraft by 50 per cent and to achieve environmental protection and green aircraft through development of new technologies and new products.

"It is mandatory to develop a portfolio of technologies to satisfy key future customer requirements in the field of economics, mission performance, environment and survivability. The safe, reliable, solid-state storage of hydrogen is one of the critical problems for fuel cells, and therefore this project has potential for significant impact within the EADS business."

If the project goes to plan, the researchers hope to be able to fly an unmanned aircraft using a hydrogen-powered fuel cell as a prototype for a commercially usable plane.

Harry McGregor of Scottish start-up firm Hydrogen Horizons, which is due to open a base in Glasgow next year, added: "Hydrogen is not only the most efficient energy carrier available, it is totally clean and completely green. Hydrogen can, and we believe will, revolutionise all modes of transportation."The researchers said modifying the construction of the tank will extend its life, making it able to sustain the conditions required to power an aeroplane.

Once the technology has been proven in a small-scale demonstration, the team plans to create a larger team with academic and industrial partners to seek large scale funding from the UK and the European Union.

The researchers have won funding from the Materials Knowledge Transfer Network - part of the UK Technology Strategy Board - and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for a student to carry out a four-year PhD project.