UK Hydrogen Economy Progresses Through Major Initiatives
The UK is making great progression within its hydrogen economy, with two major recent initiatives leading the way.
DRIFT Energy has announced plans for the world’s first green hydrogen-producing vessel, a project funded through their successful seed round, which aims to revolutionize hydrogen production at sea.
Simultaneously, Scotland is moving closer to establishing its first construction hydrogen hub, a significant development that will support the decarbonisation of the construction industry.
These projects highlight the UK’s growing commitment to innovative hydrogen solutions across various sectors.
DRIFT plans first green-hydrogen producing vessel
British startup, DRIFT Energy, set to make green energy at sea using hi-tech sailing vessels, has announced the close of its seed funding round. Led by Octopus Ventures, one of the largest and most active venture capital investors in the UK and Europe, and with support from Blue Action Accelerator, the company has secured a total of £4.65 million, enabling it to scale and realise its ambition to start vessel production next year.
The company aims to drive the transition to clean energy worldwide by deploying a fleet of high-performance sailing vessels that harness deep ocean wind to produce green hydrogen at sea and deliver it globally. The growing demand for clean hydrogen to accelerate the decarbonisation of sectors such as heavy industry, transportation and manufacturing is sparking innovation in the sector.
Mat Munro, Investor at Octopus Ventures, said: “We’re incredibly excited about DRIFT and the team’s potential to lead the way in developing a truly innovative source of renewable energy.
“At Octopus Ventures, we’re backing the companies building a sustainable planet, and DRIFT’s ambitions are exactly what we’re looking for. We can’t wait for the day its first vessel sets out on its maiden voyage.”
George Northcott, Co-Founder of Blue Action Accelerator added: “Blue Action Accelerator’s mission is to help scale groundbreaking technologies that preserve marine environments and support coastal-dependent communities.
“DRIFT is the ultimate example of that – creating a new class of mobile renewable energy from the world’s seas and delivering it to where it is needed – from island nation communities to power hungry ports. We are thrilled to be supporting them as they build their first vessels and bring a vision to life.”
DRIFT Energy has also recently been awarded funding from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, as part of its Investor Partnership Programme, designed to drive investment into high-growth, innovative UK companies working on cutting-edge technology. The grant will catalyse the research and development programme and accelerate the design process of the first vessel.
Scotland’s first hydrogen hub in construction
British infrastructure group, Balfour Beatty has made significant steps in its decarbonisation journey with the launch of its M77 Hydrogen project.
They aim to demonstrate the viability of hydrogen technology for heavy plants and equipment manufacture, vowing to share their findings and best practices with the wider industry.
Angela Pllu, environmental sustainability manager at Balfour Beatty, explained: “This ambitious project is the result of over two years of collaboration with ULEMCo, Logan Energy, and PlusZero, supported by both internal funding and £243,000 from the Scottish Government.
“What is the M77 Hydrogen project? In a nutshell, we’re retrofitting heavy vehicles with a hybrid hydrogen system, aiming to achieve a 30% of reduction in carbon emissions.
“So far, we’ve successfully retrofitted two salt spreader HGVs and one Impact Protection Vehicle (IPV) and have set up green hydrogen supply, onsite storage, and refuelling infrastructure, and are now analysing our road test data to identify further improvements.”
The company have been transparent with their problems too, explaining that the main challenge encountered was the cost of retrofit, as well as the current limited availability of hydrogen refuellers and hydrogen gas. The hydrogen supply landscape in Scotland is expected to improve from 2026, enhancing accessibility.
“While others are just beginning to explore the potential of hydrogen technology in construction, we are already leading the way with our M77 Hydrogen project. Our proactive approach, grounded in real-world application and collaboration, sets us apart as pioneers in this field.” Angela concluded.
