HSL has secured a contract worth £2 million with the Energies Technologies Institute (ETI) to investigate the safe use of hydrogen-based fuels.

The project, which will involve experimental and modelling work, has been launched by the ETI to advance the safe design and operation of cycle gas turbines and combined heat & power systems using hydrogen-based fuels. HSL will lead on the project in collaboration with Imperial Consultants, the consulting arm of Imperial College.

HSL CEO Eddie Morland commented: "We are delighted to be leading this crucial research project which will contribute to helping the UK reach its energy targets. At HSL we have an impressive track record of enabling new technologies, so the opportunity to work on such an innovative project is one that we will relish."

The project will use experimental and modelling methods to investigate the impact of a flameout in a combined cycle gas turbine and combined heat and power system, which may result in an explosive mixture of fuel and air being pumped into a hot exhaust system before the flameout is detected. This in turn could lead to an explosion.

ETI Chief Executive Dr David Clarke said: "The project will be a significant step in creating industry confidence in using high hydrogen fuels and taking the UK towards greater use of what have to be treated today as 'waste fuels' because of uncertainty in how to control their combustion.  Looking ahead, greater use of fuels from sources such as waste reprocessing will be an important part of improving energy costs and energy security for all UK consumers."

The ETI is a public private partnership between six global industrial companies - BP, Caterpillar, EDF, E.ON, Rolls-Royce and Shell - and the UK Government tasked with developing "mass scale" technologies that will help the UK meet its 2020 and 2050 energy targets. It is concerned with identifying affordable, sustainable and secure energy across heat, power, transport and the infrastructure that links them.

ETI Press Release