Loughborough University’s low-cost, lead-acid battery-electrolyser for sustainable green hydrogen production has been shortlisted for the 2025 Hydrogen Awards for the second consecutive year.
The project team is led by EnerHy Director Professor Dani Strickland of Loughborough’s Centre for Renewable Energy Systsems Technology and Green Hydrogen Research Group.
The innovation reimagines the traditional lead-acid battery as a dual-purpose battery-electrolyser system – capable of producing 99% pure green hydrogen using 99% recyclable materials and no rare earth metals.
This breakthrough offers a scalable, low-cost solution for green hydrogen generation, particularly suited to harnessing intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. The system is designed for mass manufacturability, enabling dual income streams through both energy storage and hydrogen production. It is already attracting significant interest from global battery manufacturers, regional economic development agencies, and international charities.
Supported by Innovate UK and European investment, the project is now entering a new phase of cost-effective automation and scaling, with applications ranging from off-grid rural communities in Africa to large-scale UK wind farms.
The Hydrogen Awards celebrate innovation, enterprise, and excellence in hydrogen research and application. Winners will be announced at The Hydrogen Conference, taking place at the University of Aston in Birmingham on September 16, 2025. The awards ceremony, held during the conference lunch, will bring together leading voices from the international hydrogen community.