The goal of this project is to advance hydrogen pipeline technology by integrating innovative materials and improving performance across all lifecycle stages.
- Research area: Systems and components
- Institution: Loughborough University
- Supervisor: Dr Rebecca Higginson
- PhD student: Durgavajhhala Ayush Rao
- Conducted in collaboration with Cadent
Project summary
Transporting hydrogen at scale must be safe, efficient, and cost-effective, requiring advancements in materials, construction, and management. Pipelines also need to be sustainable, considering the circular economy.
This project aims to improve and adopt new materials and processes for hydrogen pipelines. It will focus on balancing supply and demand, identifying current limitations, exploring new solutions, assessing readiness, and demonstrating improvements in safety, sustainability, reliability, and cost.
The goal is to optimise these factors for consumer benefit, considering novel materials and self-healing capabilities, covering all pipeline lifecycle stages: design, construction, operation, and decommissioning.
Meet the researcher
Hi, I’m Ayush. My journey began with a bachelor’s in automotive engineering from SRM IST, Chennai, before advancing to Cranfield University for my MSc. My master’s thesis investigated wear mechanisms and tribology of fuel injectors, which sparked my interest in materials creating a natural bridge from automotive systems to hydrogen infrastructure challenges.
Now, in collaboration with Cadent, my research tackles transporting hydrogen at scale through existing natural gas networks. I’m investigating hydrogen embrittlement, protective coatings, and materials solutions for pipeline repurposing.
I’m driven by the potential to unlock hydrogen as a key enabler of our Net Zero transition, and the CDT’s valuable interdisciplinary training and networking opportunities enhance my research capabilities, empowering me to make meaningful contributions.