RENEWABLE ENERGY
A matter of trust
Working to develop clean hydrogen technology for more than 20 years , Dr Roy has experienced first-hand the challenge of public confidence .
Although safer than many other fuel and energy sources , there remains a perception that hydrogen is dangerous , says Dr Roy , who built the UK ’ s first renewable hydrogen fuel storage cell for his PhD in 2006 .
This misconception is a significant barrier to hydrogen being embraced as a clean energy source for heat and power for homes , and for transport fuel .
Dr Roy says hydrogen is safe when – as with most forms of energy – it is handled and used properly . It requires far greater concentration in the air than natural gas ( 75 per cent compared to 15 per cent ) before it reaches a dangerous flammability level . Hydrogen diffuses nearly five times faster in the air than propane or butane , and it has less energy per unit than diesel , natural gas or LPG . All this means hydrogen actually poses less risk of explosion if , for example , it were to leak from a storage tank .
Another clean alternative to fossil fuel , and facing similar hurdles when it comes to public acceptance , is nuclear power .
Professor Becerra is using artificial intelligence to build a smart diagnosis system that monitors nuclear power plant reactors , identifying the size and severity of any leak in coolant circuits .
Funded by the UK ’ s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and developed in partnership with Leeds Beckett and Liverpool Universities and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in India , the technology , he says , provides another layer of safety to an already robust system .
The diagnosis system relies on machine learning and statistical techniques to provide high accuracy and quantified confidence bounds on its predictions , and it addresses some key challenges of fast prediction of leaks .
“ This type of work helps people appreciate that there is ongoing development in the safety of nuclear plants , so that the type of accidents that have occurred in the past would be less likely to occur in the future ,” says Professor Becerra .
The role of confidence
In the building sector , confidence to invest in renewable energy has been “ knocked around ” over the years by the abandonment of government initiatives such as photovoltaic rebates and the Green Deal home insulation programme , says Professor Gaterell .
As Professor of Sustainable Construction , his role is to build an evidence base to show developers and policymakers the benefits of building appropriately and with materials that reduce energy demand .
Using simulation software , he generates detailed thermodynamic models of a range of housing options to reveal how they will perform under a range of climate scenarios .
In a temperate climate , houses should barely consume any energy for heating and cooling , he says . “ But that requires us to think more carefully and to build to the right standards ,” he says .
Professor Gaterell says new buildings should be centred on passive design principles for the local climate and with site layouts maximising the use of sun and light .
A bigger challenge , he says , is refurbishing existing buildings , such as through “ the dull things ” – installing roof insulation , sealing draughts and ensuring heating is fit for purpose . For example , in older , draughty homes prone to damp , radiant heat sources that heat objects rather than the air are preferable , he says .
There are lots of people who are going to be hugely impacted by increased cost , but if price rises focus our attention on the nature of our consumption , that ’ s helpful in the long run .
– Professor Mark Gaterell
48 ISSUE 04 / 2022