The Manchester Metropolitan University
Keywords: Power quality, hydrogen grid integration, grid code compliance, power electronics, electrolysers, fuel cells
Sector: clean energy industries, digital and technologies
Project leads: Professor Bamidele Adebisi, ACAD Director of Smart Communities & Innovation, The Manchester Metropolitan University, KTP project lead; Mr. Kerim Ozer, Director of Consultancy, Enspec Power Ltd, KTP industry supervisor; Professor Alhussein Albarbar, Professor of Sustainable Systems Engineering, The Manchester Metropolitan University, KTP advisor; Dr Xiang Zhang, Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, The Manchester Metropolitan University, KTP academic supervisor; Dr Yagya Regmi, Reader in Energy Conversion and Storage, The Manchester Metropolitan University, KTP advisor
Project collaborators: Enspec Power Limited; The Manchester Metropolitan University; Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre
Issues addressed by the project
This project addresses critical barriers to the UK’s clean energy transition and Net Zero commitments. As the UK rapidly scales hydrogen infrastructure to decarbonise energy systems, a fundamental technical challenge has emerged: hydrogen technologies can cause power quality problems when connected to electricity grids, potentially destabilising the infrastructure needed for our clean energy future.
Currently, there is no standardised methodology for assessing how hydrogen systems interact with power grids, creating uncertainty for developers, delays in project approvals, and increased costs that threaten the viability of crucial green energy investments. Without reliable power quality assessment tools, the UK risks slower deployment of hydrogen infrastructure, jeopardising both environmental goals and the creation of high-skilled green jobs in the rapidly growing hydrogen economy.
The project directly tackles two interconnected challenges:
- Technical uncertainty around power quality impacts when integrating large-scale hydrogen systems into existing grids
- Regulatory gaps in grid compliance assessment methods for emerging hydrogen technologies
Solving these problems is essential for unlocking billions of pounds in hydrogen infrastructure investment, supporting thousands of green energy jobs, and ensuring the UK maintains its leadership position in the global clean energy transition while meeting legally binding net-zero targets.
Future impact of the project
The UK’s rush to build hydrogen infrastructure for net-zero is hitting a major roadblock: we do not know how to safely connect large hydrogen systems to power grids without causing electrical problems. This uncertainty is delaying green energy projects and making them more expensive.
This research is creating the tools to predict and prevent power quality issues when hydrogen technologies connect to the grid, meaning hydrogen projects can be built more quickly, accelerating the clean energy transition. Due to this, energy developers can move projects forward confidently, communities get cleaner air and green jobs, and the UK keeps its competitive edge in the global hydrogen economy.
Place-based local and regional benefits
This project is strengthening Greater Manchester’s position as a hydrogen innovation hub, with tangible benefits already emerging after 15 months of collaboration.
- Building local expertise: Enspec Power, a regional SME, has gained capabilities in hydrogen grid modelling and Grid Code compliance expertise. This knowledge transfer is creating high-value technical jobs and positioning the company to serve the growing hydrogen sector.
- Leveraging regional assets: By integrating with MMU’s Smart Grid Digital Twin facility and connecting to local hydrogen initiatives like the Trafford Green Hydrogen project, the research is making the region a testbed for hydrogen grid technologies. This attracts further investment and positions Greater Manchester as the place where hydrogen challenges get solved.
The result is a stronger regional ecosystem where university research, local industry, and emerging hydrogen infrastructure work together, creating the conditions for sustainable growth in clean energy jobs and expertise.
National and global benefits
This research is creating knowledge and tools that extend beyond Greater Manchester.
- Open knowledge sharing: The team is preparing publications, including a comprehensive literature review of over 70 papers on hydrogen grid integration, an industry white paper and conference presentations.
- UK strategic advantage: The power quality assessment methodologies being developed address challenges facing hydrogen projects across Britain. As the UK scales up hydrogen infrastructure from Scotland to Cornwall, the Grid Code compliance expertise generated here provides a template that other regions can adapt and use.
- International applicability: The modelling approaches and power quality solutions being developed tackle fundamental physics problems that exist wherever hydrogen systems connect to electricity grids. While the specific regulatory context is UK-focused, the technical principles are transferable to international markets.
Level of investment and timescale
This 30-month KTP represents approximately £278k of public (through Innovate UK) and industry funding. The majority funds salary and training for the KTP associate who directly works with Enspec Power. Additional costs cover laboratory access, software licenses for power modelling tools (DIgSILENT, PSCAD), and conference presentations to share findings.
Risk vs reward
The project faces genuine technical challenges: real-world hydrogen data is limited, forcing reliance on lab simulations and modelling. Software tools may not capture all the complexities of hydrogen-grid interactions.
Against these risks, the project is delivering measurable value: Enspec has gained new technical capabilities, and the research is contributing to national hydrogen infrastructure planning. The academic outputs will benefit the wider research community, while the commercial applications could support the UK’s hydrogen sector growth.
Further aspects
The project’s strength lies in its systematic progression from theoretical research to practical tools that industry can use immediately.
- Validation process: The research combines computer modelling with real equipment testing at MMU’s Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre, using Intelligent Energy fuel cells and ITM Power electrolysers. This dual approach ensures findings are grounded in both theoretical understanding and practical reality.
- Industry integration: The project has naturally evolved to meet current regulatory requirements, including detailed Grid Code compliance analysis-exactly what industry needs for real projects. The team is now exploring integration with MMU’s new Smart Grid Digital Twin Demonstrator facility, adding real-time simulation capabilities.
- Knowledge transfer mechanisms: Beyond academic publications, the project emphasises practical knowledge sharing through workshops, training sessions, and direct involvement of company supervisors in laboratory work. This ensures expertise stays within the regional economy.
- Real-world connections: The research directly supports actual hydrogen projects, including potential collaboration with Carlton Power (200MW planned capacity) and connections to the Trafford Green Hydrogen initiative. This bridges the gap between academic research and commercial deployment.
The project demonstrates how university-industry partnerships can tackle complex technical challenges while building regional capabilities that benefit the broader clean energy transition. It tackles major issues in implementing hydrogen technologies for greener energy, establishing the region of Greater Manchester as a leading area in the industry, while developing systems applicable on a national and potentially global level.
