Clean hydrogen technology collaboration launches across UK research sector

Clean hydrogen technology collaboration launches across UK research sector
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Oct 25, 2025

Aston University has joined a nationwide initiative supported by GBP 800000 from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to develop next-generation hydrogen production from waste steam generated by nuclear energy plants.

Dr Amirpiran Amiri, senior lecturer at the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute, is leading a GBP 250000 effort in Birmingham focused on reducing both the cost and carbon emissions of hydrogen production by leveraging waste heat. The METASIS 2.0 project aims to pioneer solid oxide steam electrolyser (SOSE) technology, harnessing both electricity and heat from renewable and nuclear sources. Researchers have designed tubular cells capable of operating at extreme temperatures ranging from 600oC to 900oC, enhancing the efficiency of clean hydrogen generation.

The METASIS 2.0 project's innovative approach seeks to reduce the reliance on expensive electrical power by using waste heat - often dismissed as a byproduct in nuclear operations - to generate hydrogen. High-temperature steam electrolysis, a process at the heart of this initiative, is seen as a cost-effective and energy-efficient pathway to produce low-carbon hydrogen, especially when coupled with advanced nuclear and renewable energy sources.[1][2]

This research forms part of broader national efforts to support the UK government's target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The potential applications for clean hydrogen extend across sectors such as transportation and manufacturing, which are both under pressure to decarbonize. As solid oxide electrolysers become commercially viable, they promise to supply hydrogen crucial for energy-intensive industries and for balancing intermittent renewable electricity generation.[3][2]

Aston University's Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) is also renowned for developing integrated systems to convert biomass into hydrogen. With state-of-the-art facilities designed for high-precision energy research, EBRI has expanded collaborations, enabling rapid testing of diverse feedstocks and pressure regimes in both laboratory and industrial-scale settings. These innovations not only support the deployment of hydrogen for the UK energy transition but also foster global research toward sustainable power generation.[4][5]

Professor Nadimul Faisal, project lead, stated: "Hydrogen is central to achieving the UK's net-zero goals. This investment allows us to push forward the science and engineering needed to make solid oxide steam electrolysis commercially viable, while creating new opportunities for sustainable innovation in partnership with industry."