EVENTS

 

The Hydrogen Carrier Fuelling our Net Zero Future 

Hydrogen has long been hailed as a key player in the transition to Net Zero. However, storing, moving, and utilising it at scale still presents significant technical and economic challenges. So, what if the solution lies in a molecule we’ve known and used for over a century? Ammonia, a hydrogen vector with great potential for off-the-grid applications, can immediately start supporting decarbonisation targets, offering a practical and scalable pathway to accelerate the clean energy transition.

About the session

In this session, Professor Agustin Valera-Medina, Director of the Net Zero Innovation Institute at Cardiff University and lead of the GW-SHIFT theme Conversion, explores the critical role of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier and as a powerful zero-carbon fuel in its own right.

Ammonia (NH₃), already widely used in agriculture, is gaining attention for its potential to simplify hydrogen storage and transport. As a carbon-free molecule with high hydrogen content, ammonia could be the key to unlocking large-scale, cost-effective, and low-emission hydrogen deployment. From shipping fuel to industrial heat and power systems, researchers are pushing boundaries to enable ammonia-based energy solutions that are stable, efficient, and clean.

This insightful and engaging session will explore:

• Why ammonia is emerging as a key enabler of the hydrogen economy

• The practical challenges of using ammonia in energy systems

• Cutting-edge research and real-world pilots currently underway

• How the UK is positioning itself as a global leader in ammonia energy innovation

• The role of hydrogen carriers in achieving true Net Zero emissions

Whether used directly or as a stepping stone for hydrogen transport and storage, ammonia could reshape how we decarbonise sectors like heavy transport, industry, and power generation. But significant R&D is still needed to overcome technological barriers and ensure sustainable, low-emission life cycles.

Meet the Speaker

Professor Agustin Valeria-Medina, Director of the Net Zero Innovation Institute, Cardiff University

Professor Agustin Valera-Medina has participated as PI/Co-I on 33 industrial projects with multi-nationals including PEMEX, Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Ricardo, Airbus and EON (>£35M). He has published 230 papers (h-index 44), 95 of these specifically concerning ammonia power. Prof. Valera-Medina led Cardiff’s contribution to the Innovate-UK ‘Decoupled Green Energy’ Project (2015-2018) led by Siemens and in partnership with STFC and the University of Oxford, which aims to demonstrate the use of green ammonia produced from wind energy. He is currently PI of various projects (SAFE-AGT, FLEXnCONFU, OceanREFuel, MariNH3, CAIPIRINH3A, etc.) to demonstrate ammonia power in turbine engines, Internal Combustion Engines and furnaces. He has been part of various scientific boards, chairing sessions in international conferences and moderating large industrial panels on the topic of “Ammonia for Direct Use”. He has supported two Royal Society Policy Briefings related to the use of ammonia as energy vector, and he is the principal author of two ammonia books concerning “ammonia as energy vector”. He is Co-Director of the Institute of Net Zero Innovation, and Director of the Centre of Excellence on Ammonia Technologies (CEAT), Cardiff University. He is a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (2024).

Who should attend?

This session is ideal for:

• Energy professionals, engineers and researchers

• Policymakers and industry leaders shaping Net Zero strategies

• Anyone curious about the future of hydrogen fuels and energy storage

• Stakeholders in transport, industrial heat, shipping and power sectors

Whether you’re exploring practical applications or deep energy system integration, join us for a rare opportunity to gain insight from one of the UK’s leading voices in hydrogen innovation.