The award celebrates projects that bring genuinely new ideas to life and show how they can help the UK scale up its hydrogen economy. Other finalists in the category are companies HiiROC, INEOS, Oort Energy and Wild Hydrogen.
Loughborough’s battery‑electrolyser system reimagines the lead‑acid battery to combine charging, power supply and hydrogen production in one recyclable unit. It makes clean hydrogen at around 22 litres per minute and stores it safely underground, turning what used to be undesired hydrogen evolution, in lead-acid batteries, into a productive feature.
Unlike conventional electrolysers, which rely on rare metals and remain idle when renewables are at low levels, Loughborough’s solution uses abundant, fully recyclable materials from the lead-acid supply chain. It delivers high‑purity hydrogen without membranes or expensive catalysts, offering a step change in simplicity, safety and affordability. This is the first known system to unite lead‑acid battery and electrolyser functions in a single, scalable device.
Over the past year, the battery‑electrolyser has moved rapidly from concept to real‑world deployment. It is backed by more than £12 million in funding and supported by over 20 partners worldwide, including leading manufacturers Monbat, Hoppecke, Hollingsworth & Vose and Ultima Forma. Designed to be affordable, robust and easy to deploy through established supply chains, the system is a practical step towards bringing hydrogen into everyday use.
The first full system was tested at Loughborough in July 2025 and has arrived in Malawi for commissioning, with another unit almost ready to be sent to Africa.
Professor Dani Strickland, project lead, said: “Being shortlisted for the UK Hydrogen Awards is fantastic recognition for our team and partners and gives us valuable momentum as we build the next phase. This innovation sits at the heart of our new hydrogen production demonstrator and a solar PV system‑level research facility now being developed at Loughborough University – part of the East Midlands Zero Carbon Innovation Centre, supported by East Midlands Freeport. These facilities will help us scale manufacturing, accelerate deployment and work with partners across the region and beyond.”
Dr Jonathan Wilson, project co‑lead, added: “To be recognised as a finalist at the UK Hydrogen Awards alongside leading companies is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our global team and partners, all focused on turning a proven, fully recyclable battery technology into a practical, scalable way to produce green hydrogen.”
The finalists of the UK Hydrogen Awards are available on the Hydrogen UK website. Winners will be at the Birmingham NCC on 10 March.