Hydrogen already plays a major role in energy conversion and chemical processing.  In the future, it is widely expected to become an important fuel in its own right.  Technologies that enable hydrogen to be stored more cost effectively, safely and efficiently have the potential to gain substantial market share in a wide range of applications. 

The R&D project is driven by early foresighting work that ITI Energy has undertaken in the energy storage sector.  This identified a number of opportunities to develop new technologies to meet future market needs.  The project will see an initial investment of up to £1 million by ITI Energy, to further evaluate and optimise the basic enabling nano-material.  The potential follow-on R&D projects involving additional applications could see ITI Energy investing upwards of £3 million in each and, in the process, create a host of partnering opportunities for Scottish researchers and companies to work with international partners.

Alterg’s technical and business development team will relocate from France to Scotland, and be based at the University of Strathclyde’s Department of Chemical and Process Engineering in Glasgow.  The company will be contributing all its background Intellectual Property and know how from the senior management team, which includes Denis Huguenin, Managing Director of Alterg, a globally recognised expert in solid state chemistry and co-inventor for a number of active patents in this technological field.  Strathclyde will be providing specialised R&D services in the production and testing of the new materials under the direction of Professor Peter Hall, a world renowned expert in fuel and energy technologies.

Speaking at the World Renewables Energy Congress today in Aberdeen, Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace, said "Creating the technologies that will help place Scotland's research and business communities  at the heart of the innovative technology developments shaping future markets is one of the key functions of ITI Energy.  Today's announcement is an ideal opportunity to showcase the pioneering steps being taken to ensure this happens. 
Globally there are huge opportunities to be exploited in the field of clean and renewable energy. The rapidly developing sector of hydrogen as a source and store of fuel is just one example of an industry where Scotland can be a world leader. We are determined to do everything we can to ensure these opportunities are not missed, as is aptly demonstrated by the work of ITI Energy.”

Tony Amor, Chief Executive Officer, ITI Energy, said: “I am pleased to be able to announce the third R&D investment by ITI Energy so soon after our first two project announcements.  A fully developed ‘hydrogen economy’ may be a few decades away but there are commercial applications for hydrogen-related technologies available now and others are starting to emerge.  This is an opportunity for ITI Energy and our partners to develop an enabling technology that could help Scotland and Scottish businesses play a leading role in both the near and longer term markets”.

Denis Huguenin, Managing Director of Alterg, commenting on the project said: “Chemistry remains a source of innovation for the development of new technologies, particularly in energy.  This is an early stage project with a genuine opportunity to deliver disruptive technology.  Although this means there are substantial market and technical uncertainties, the technology has an exciting breadth of possible applications, for example hydrogen bottled storage, each of which is worth in excess of several $100 millions per year.  We are looking forward to working with ITI Energy and the University of Strathclyde to develop this technology in Scotland