The socio-economic and financial implications of hydrogen use for transport and gas supply

Hydrogen and fuel cell technology have the potential to largely contribute to the decarbonization of the energy system. The possible applications to the transport, to the industrial and to the household sectors are receiving increasing attentions from academic researches, business activities and public authorities. Having the potential to be integrated into all component of the energy system, hydrogen is providing substantial opportunities to decarbonize the energy structure. The overall economic value of its utilization is expected to increase rapidly with spillover effects across activities and employment generation.

The Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Center is a new £4.1M part funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) research center established by Manchester Metropolitan University. The center with its world-leading academics is working in collaboration with small-medium enterprises and regional institutions to develop the latest catalytic materials and to identify cost-effective application strategies.

The Future Economies research center is an interdisciplinary research center that combines the fields of economics and political economy to analyse the future policy challenges and the related strategies and responses of business, policymakers and civil society. The Green Economies research area of the Future Economies research center is particularly focused to identify how technological development, consumer behavior and macroeconomic policies can be combined to promote a more sustainable economic structure.

The collaboration between the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Center and the Future Economies research center will then be oriented to investigate the main drivers, barriers and economic implications of hydrogen uses.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
The aim of the project is to investigate the main socio-economic and financial implications related to the use of hydrogen in transport and gas supply.

The main objectives will be oriented to:

- To investigate the potential applications of in the North West of England;
- To investigate the potential benefits and costs across sectors and activities;
- To investigate the main socio-economic and financial implications;
- To work in collaboration with local authorities to identify the most cost-effective and sustainable implementation strategies.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROJECT:

Experience in the following areas: Energy Economics / Energy and Economic Modelling /Interdisciplinary approach