Hydrogen: A silver bullet or a red herring?

This event aims to bring together stakeholders relating to the role of hydrogen in meeting the UK and International net zero targets.

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About this event

This event, co-organised by the University of Glasgow, the European Federation of Geologists and The Geological Society brings together expertise from industry and academia and the general public to discuss the role that Hydrogen may have in reaching net-zero targets.

Hydrogen has the potential to be an effective source of energy; it produces significantly less greenhouse gases than current gas based systems, and has the potential to be implemented within existing infrastructures, reducing the costs of the energy transition. Although research and pilot schemes have been conducted, the transition to hydrogen based energy systems is still in its relative infancy.

The event is split into two sessions. The morning technical session (on-line), brings together a series of experts in the field to present and discuss key themes relating to hydrogen and the energy transition. The afternoon session (at the University of Glasgow main campus) will bring together experts and the general public.

Key themes that will be explored during both sessions include:

- Pilot schemes, What has worked? What lessons have been learned?

- Are there issues with public perception?

- Who finances the transition?

- Can hydrogen be used within existing infrastructures?

- Challenges of large-scale storage to meet demands.

Schedule:

Morning Technical Session (online)

(9-9:05):

Introduction to the event (Glen Burridge, Amanda Owen and Florence Bullough)

(9:05 - 10:35)

Carbon sequestered H2 and H2 storage:

On this panel we have a series of experts who will present and discuss themes relating to large scale subsurface storage of hydrogen, hear about existing schemes such as from the Acorn Grangemouth project, discuss emerging areas relating to hydrogen and wind power as well as discuss public perception on hydrogen and its uses.

• Katriona Edlmann (University of Edinburgh)

• INEOS (TBC)

• Angus McCoss (dCarbonX)

• Christina Demski (Cardiff University)

(10:35 - 10.50)

Break

(10:50 - 12:20)

Natural Hydrogen panel:

On this panel we will have an overview of the process that generates hydrogen in subsurface, of the countries that are working on the evaluation of this new resource and hear from companies, large and small, that are now active in this new business.

• 10:50 Isabelle Moretti (University Pau; panel chair) : Why and where H2 is generated in subsurface

• 11:10 Emanuelle Frery (CSIRO) : Australian’s hydrogen ‘gold rush’

• 11:30 Felipe Gonzalez (Ecopetrol & Atlas Research Group): How a country as Colombia, rich in HC and coal, is initiating the exploration of this new resource, the need of training

• 11:45 Pierre Levin & Michael Hart (Beam Earth) Investing in Natural Hydrogen

• 12:05 Nicolas Pelissier (45-8 Energy) : What if natural hydrogen was the “game changer” of the energy transition ?

• (12:20-12:30) Closing remarks