The hydrogen and fuel cells SUPERGEN is funded by the Research Councils UK Energy Programme, as part of the government’s Sustainable Power Generation and Supply initiative. It was set up in 2012 to address the key challenges facing the hydrogen and fuel cell sector as it strives to provide cost competitive, low carbon technologies in a more secure UK energy landscape.

Multidisciplinary collaboration
The H2FC SUPERGEN consists of a multidisciplinary team of academics. The core research programme for the hub includes: Policy – Research synthesis – Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems – Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Safety – Education and training – Hydrogen storage – Polymer Electrolyte Fuel cells – Solid Oxide Fuel cells and electrolysers.

Linking Academia to Industry
H2FC SUPERGEN brings together top academics and key experts in industry, ensuring that Hydrogen and Fuel Cell research can effectively scale up to support wealth and job creation for the UK.

Informing Policy
The hub seeks to inform key stakeholders, and especially policy makers, of the potential benefits of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, and their capacity for addressing the energy trilemma: energy security, energy cost, and environmental sustainability; alongside assessment of opportunities for job creation. This is done through evidence based white papers written by hub scientists, and through direct engagement.

Building Networks
The Hub champions hydrogen and fuel cells research, both within the UK and internationally. It spreads its message via networks, knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement, community building, education, training and continuous professional development.
The Hub is run by leading academics who form the Management Board, and supported by the Science Board. Industrial insight is provided by the Advisory Board. This alliance endeavours to demonstrate the role hydrogen and fuel cell technologies can play in energy applications on a global scale. Such applications include managing the intermittency of renewables, low carbon transport (cars, buses, boat/ferries, forklifts, etc.) and low carbon heating/power systems.