A consortium of British universities is exploring a collaborative project with partners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to create a Joint International Institute for Clean Hydrogen. The project was during a visit to the Gulf.
Newcastle, Northumbria, Teesside, Durham and Cranfield universities will be working jointly with universities and research institutes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and industrial partners from both nations to accelerate progress towards Net Zero.
The initiative aims to educate the next generation of engineers, to develop research and create new businesses that will be key for achieving the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy resources.
A delegation from the universities is set to travel to Saudi in the coming months to progress the project.
The University partners said: “We welcome the government’s announcement of our intention to collaborate with partners in Saudi Arabia to create the Joint International Institute for Clean Hydrogen.
“By working together to strengthen our international partnerships, our universities are providing the foundation for a research and innovation ecosystem that will put the UK at the forefront of the green energy agenda. This will benefit local communities, create jobs, provide a pipeline of skilled graduates and amplify the global reach of our research.”
ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ is a leading research and development centre for hydrogen. The is creating a hydrogen ecosystem at the Cranfield campus, linking projects and facilities in production, storage, materials, propulsion, usage, aircraft design and airport operations.
Professor Phil Longhurst, Director of Transport and Energy at Cranfield University commented: “The drive towards net zero is urgent and crucial. At Cranfield, we’re working to rapidly develop hydrogen research and innovation. This feeds directly into our teaching so that the next generation of engineers, energy professionals and managers have the latest knowledge to apply. This is another crucial step towards real change on a large scale.”
