EnerHy CDT researchers joined over 100 senior representatives from prominent organisations at the East Midlands Hydrogen Summit held at HyMarnham Power – a key event spotlighting the region’s transition to a low-carbon hydrogen economy. The team exhibited the HyPepa PIG prototype, a Pipeline Inspection Gauge designed to tackle hydrogen embrittlement in pipeline infrastructure. It was developed during their recent Design & Build challenge set by Cadent Gas Limited and showcased alongside some of the UK’s most innovative hydrogen technologies.
As a real-time demonstration of hydrogen’s clean potential, the only emission from the summit itself was water – produced by GeoPura’s hydrogen power unit.
The summit coincided with a major announcement from Cadent unveiling the route for the East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline (ECHP), a 140km infrastructure project connecting hydrogen production in North Nottinghamshire and the Humber to energy-intensive industries across the East Midlands. This pipeline will enable a dramatic scale-up of hydrogen production at HyMarnham Power from 15MW to over 900MW, potentially saving 600,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually and creating up to 17,000 jobs by 2050.
The announcement marks a pivotal moment for hydrogen development in the UK, with HyMarnham Power set to become one of the first projects from the UK Government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 1 (HAR1) to go live in Autumn 2025. EnerHy CDT is proud to play a key role in this transformative journey – advancing cutting-edge research, driving innovation, and developing the skills needed to support the UK’s transition to a low-carbon hydrogen economy.
EnerHy CDT Director Professor Dani Strickland commented:
“The East Midlands Hydrogen Summit was an invaluable opportunity for our student researchers to present alongside industry leaders; validating the quality and relevance of their research and building their networks and confidence. The HyPepa PIG prototype is a great example of how industry-led challenges enable new researchers to develop practical engineering skills, work collaboratively under pressure, equipping them for leadership roles.”
Alongside hydrogen innovation leaders
EnerHy’s HyPepa PIG was in excellent company at the East Midlands Hydrogen Summit, exhibiting alongside GeoPura (Hydrogen Power Unit), HyHAUL Mobility/Electra (Hydrogen HGV), Flannery Plant Hire (Diesel/H2 Dual Excavator), Toyota (Hydrogen Hilux), Intelligent Energy (Hyster H2 Forklift), TCP Group (Hydrogen Lighting Tower), and Loughborough University’s low-cost, lead-acid battery-electrolyser for sustainable green hydrogen production.
Photos by Alex Wilkinson.