Hydrogen is expected to play a vital role in storing renewable energy and decarbonising industries such as steel and ammonia manufacturing. However, current electrolyser technologies remain costly and face performance limitations.

Through his project, “ION-H2: Intensification and Optimisation of Next-Generation Water Electrolysers for Green Hydrogen Production”, Dr Niblett will design a new class of high-performance electrolysers that reduce reliance on scarce precious metals while significantly improving efficiency. The research will tackle key challenges in hydrogen production such as the formation and removal of gas bubbles during operation, which can increase resistance and restrict mass transport.

By combining advanced computer modelling, artificial intelligence and laboratory experiments, the project will create a “virtual laboratory” to design and optimise entirely new electrolyser architectures. The optimised designs will then be manufactured using advanced 3D printing techniques and tested experimentally. Dr Niblett will be working closely with collaborators from Australia, USA, China, Netherlands and Norway to advance research in this area.

Making green hydrogen cheaper

Dr Niblett said: "This fellowship and the project focus is critical for advancing electrolyser technology which enables cheaper green hydrogen. This is essential for large scale storage of renewable energy which is often curtailed.

“The work packages will also focus on advancing the state-of-art of electrochemical engineering modelling, optimisation and manufacturing processes that is necessary to achieve this goal. I expect that with this dedicated time, and by leading a consortium of international researcher organisations I will be able to provide tools, solutions and prototypes for not only electrolysers, but other electrochemical devices where multi-scale, multi-phase materials govern the operation and performance."

While the immediate focus is green hydrogen, the modelling tools developed will have wider applications across engineering fields where porous materials, fluid flow and electrochemical processes are critical.

Dr Niblett joins the School of Engineering to strengthen its expertise in multi-scale modelling, electrochemical engineering and sustainable energy research.