Digital Catapult launches Hydrogen Sensor Accelerator

30 January, 2024

Digital Catapult’s Hydrogen Sensor Accelerator is a first-of-its-kind eight-week programme to deliver the UK strategy for hydrogen technology. The aim is to accelerate the development of sensor products for UK industry, driving sustainable growth of the UK’s Hydrogen energy sector. Five pioneering businesses have been selected for the programme by Digital Catapult and will be supported as they navigate the competitive investment landscape to secure funding and establish a strong market presence.

As part of the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII), the Hydrogen Sensor Accelerator is a transformative programme supported by Innovate UK and the Industrial Advisory Board with a vision to make hydrogen technology a cornerstone of the UK's industrial landscape. Partners of the wider Hydrogen Innovation Initiative include the Catapult Network, the Aerospace Technology Institute, the Net Zero Technology Centre, and the National Physical Laboratory, demonstrating the value of industry-wide collaboration to drive adoption of pioneering new hydrogen solutions.

With tailored support from industry mentors and experts at Digital Catapult to develop and optimise products, the participating companies will receive access to state-of-the-art facilities to accelerate their market readiness, helping to sharpen the UK’s competitive edge in hydrogen innovation.

The accelerator will help meet growing demand from UK businesses that consider hydrogen to be a cornerstone of their sustainability strategies. These businesses require effective mechanisms to produce, store and use hydrogen safely and responsibly, and sensors are a critical tool to achieving this. The sensors and other solutions developed through the programme will ensure safety in hydrogen plants, optimise efficiency, maintain quality, monitor infrastructure, and support the overall growth of hydrogen as a reliable energy source in the UK.

Geraldina Iraheta, Chief Commercial Officer at Digital Catapult, said: "We’re thrilled to launch this groundbreaking programme to accelerate the development of sensor products in hydrogen, a catalyst for clean energy innovation. Together we propel the future forward, pushing at boundaries to empower a sustainable tomorrow, and this is one of several energy projects that we are working on right now at Digital Catapult."

Tom Knight, Managing Director at Bohr, said: “Bohr was formed with a mission to develop sensor technology to enable the increased and accelerated adoption of green gas. We are hugely excited to have the opportunity to utilise the support offered by Digital Catapult's Hydrogen Sensor Accelerator programme to take our technology to the next level.”

Neill Ricketts, Chair at Gas Sensing Solutions, said: “Gas Sensing Solutions is excited to be joining the accelerator to develop a new product line and be a key part of the development of a growing hydrogen sector”

The five companies joining the Hydrogen Sensor Accelerator Programme are: