What are the impacts on nitrogen oxides of using hydrogen in internal combustion engines? Can they be mitigated? Are there any other emissions of concern?

Background

The reducing environmental impacts strategic priority is in recognition that there is an environmental aspect to all transport, and therefore almost all the work of DfT. Transport is the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gases in the UK, contributing 27% of domestic emissions in 2019. Our transport system must change to deliver the government’s Net Zero ambition and DfT will drive forwards that change through our longer-term green transport agenda. On decarbonisation specifically, we published our Transport decarbonisation plan (TDP) in July 2021, which sets out the steps we will take to deliver the necessary carbon reductions across every form of transport. Sustainability will be at the heart of levelling-up. People everywhere will feel the benefits – villages, towns, cities, and countryside will be cleaner, greener, healthier and more prosperous and pleasant environments in which to live and work

Next steps

Get in touch with bridgetoresearch@dft.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DFT-Areas of research interest 2023 GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Hydrogen-diesel co-combustion

    There are reports that suggest that the addition of small quantities of hydrogen can improve the efficiency of the operation of a diesel engine and reduce the emission of particulates and perhaps even NOx. However, the p...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: CELLA ENERGY LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to study the impacts of using hydrogen in internal combustion engines and reduce emissions.

  • H2 Internal Combustion Engine for Light Commercial Vehicles

    In the drive to Net Zero the use of Hydrogen can play an important role in future UK transport. Whilst the majority of work looking at using hydrogen as a fuel for vehicles has been focused on fuel cell there is the pote...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: FORD TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on adapting internal combustion engines to run on hydrogen, but does not specifically address the impacts on nitrogen oxides or other emissions.

  • Hydrogen fuel technologies for future propulsion and power (HOPE)

    Current and future energy policies are increasingly aiming to reduce carbon emissions from the propulsion and power sector. The combustion of fossil fuels releases carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), and there i...

    Funded by: FLF

    Lead research organisation: University College London

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on H2 combustion in gas turbines and does not directly address the impacts on nitrogen oxides in internal combustion engines.

  • HERCULES "Hydrogen Emissions Reductant for CO2 and Ultra Low EmissionS"

    This project builds upon the work previously carried out in the IDP4 CREO programme, where a concept of emissions and CO2 reductions using hydrogen was explored. This work demonstrated good reductions in HC and CO emissi...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ULEMCO LTD

  • Community Scenarios Of Hydrogen Energy And Impacts On Air Pollution

    Air pollution is a key environmental challenge for the UK. The energy sector is a major source of air pollutants. Several strategies have been proposed to move to net zero emissions and each will have different implicati...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: University College London

  • HyTIME - Hydrogen Truck Implementation for Maximum Emission reductions

    This 24-month project will trial a range of vehicles and associated duty cycles with hydrogen dual-fuel technology (H2ICED®), in order to provide evidence of the carbon reduction and air quality improvement of this w...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ULEMCO LTD

  • Zero Carbon Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine

    We are currently building a Hydrogen Internal Combustion engine. Our engine is based on a well established racing engine innovated in 2008\. It has been tested and being used in racing vehicles for many years. Our engine...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: SHEED TECH LTD

  • Hydrogen Internal Combustion using Diesel pilot ignition

    The project aims to develop an alternative Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine utilising the Diesel engine rather than the conventional Spark ignition engine. This innovative research will open the market for low cost us...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: REVOLVE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

  • High Hydrogen Content (HHC) Fuel Burning at High Pressure

    To have a realistic chance of reducing the carbon footprint before 2020, intensive actions are required before the date by which a new international climate agreement is due to come into force. Combustion is at the heart...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Southampton

  • Direct Combustion of Hydrogen in Aero-Engines "CAVENDISH"

    In line with the European Green Deal target of reaching carbon neutrality in the aviation industry by 2050, breakthrough technologies related to direct (100% hydrogen) combustion systems will be researched, prototyped an...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY