Hydrogen demonstrations showcase transport and energy innovation
Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for transport, the built environment, cities and local growth, has announced five projects selected to receive support under the 2025/26 Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) Demonstration Programme.
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The initiative aims to strengthen the UK’s hydrogen technology sector by demonstrating technologies spanning hydrogen production, storage and end-use in real-world environments.
Funded through the HII, which is supported by Innovate UK and led by the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the demonstration programme is designed to generate practical insights into hydrogen system performance and integration, and to help de-risk adoption and encourage commercial growth.
The demonstrations span aviation, marine, energy generation and hydrogen production technologies, with several focused directly on transport uses.
Projects include:
HydroShunter – Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions
Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions will showcase HydroShunter, reported to be the UK’s first hydrogen-powered railway shunter. The vehicle uses a hydrogen fuel cell and battery traction system, and the demonstration aims to illustrate the potential for zero-emission operation in rail freight under demanding duty cycles.
Sky-Drones – Hydrogen for Unmanned Aerial Systems
Sky-Drones focuses on hydrogen generation, storage and propulsion for unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Using a novel off-grid hydrogen generation technology and onboard fuel cell propulsion, the project seeks to extend flight endurance for long-range missions in remote settings.
H2CHP – Hydrogen Combined Heat and Power
H2CHP is developing hydrogen-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) solutions using a modular hydrogen-to-electricity linear generator. The demonstration will take place behind the meter on a microgrid at the CEME campus in Rainham, East London, using hydrogen produced off-grid to showcase efficient, low-carbon energy generation.
Latent Drive – SeaStack Electrolyser
Latent Drive will demonstrate SeaStack, an electrolyser designed for harsh offshore and marine environments, capable of producing hydrogen directly from seawater. The project will test hybrid bipolar plates to address corrosion challenges and explore production from concentrated brines and wastewater.
Unitrove – Liquid Hydrogen Storage and Distribution
Unitrove is advancing liquid hydrogen storage and distribution technologies, including supplying GeoPura’s latest Hydrogen Power Unit (HPU). In collaboration with Steamology, the project will also explore how liquid hydrogen can power high-efficiency steam turbines, demonstrating the versatility of liquid hydrogen for zero-emission energy pathways.
The demonstrations are intended to provide valuable performance data and system integration insights in operational contexts, helping to build confidence in emerging hydrogen technologies and support their wider adoption. Organisers say sharing the outcomes from these projects will help position the UK as a global leader in hydrogen innovation and support business growth across sectors.
Sameer Savani, Managing Director for Transport at Connected Places Catapult, emphasised that real-world demonstrations are key to wider technology adoption and scaling and that the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative brings together partners from industry, government and academia to accelerate progress from concept to deployment.