Hydrogen in the Valleys – GW-SHIFT secondment supporting council-led, hydrogen production in Caerphilly
Type of project: SECONDMENT
Partners
● University of South Wales
● Caerphilly County Borough Council
Impacts at a glance
● Embedded hydrogen knowledge into Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC): The secondment has covered hydrogen safety and planning, as well as proving its techno-economic case.
● Finalised plans for hydrogen production at the Coed Top site: Contact time and public engagement accelerated progress on hydrogen production plans.
● Developed an innovative water treatment concept using electrolyser waste heat: As part of hydrogen production plans, the project has taken advantage of a disused, municipal waste site and its reed bed water treatment facility to create a more cost-effective and energy-efficient hydrogen production process.
● Calculated the potential hydrogen demand for the council’s vehicle fleet: CCBC requires more reliable transport on long routes and harsh terrain/conditions in the valleys. Hydrogen was identified as an appropriate technology for larger refuse vehicles.
Short project description
After successfully securing GW-SHIFT funding, Dr Stephen Carr was seconded into Caerphilly, continuing his work alongside CCBC on the ‘Innovation in Council Led Hydrogen Project Development’.
As a collaborative effort between the University of South Wales (USW) and Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC), the project was aimed at advancing the development of local, council-driven hydrogen production.
The main secondment objective was to continue embedding knowledge amongst council leaders and staff – relieving health and safety concerns, offering insights into production plans, and proving its technoeconomic case as an appropriate technology. The secondment also progressed on its plans for hydrogen production, and its water treatment process, as well as assessing the potential for hydrogen use across CCBC’s larger refuse vehicle fleet.
The collaboration between Dr Stephen Carr and USW, and Anna Lewis and CCBC, is now seeking further funding to take the project from feasibility to application.
Academic Quote
Dr Stephen Carr, Senior Research Fellow in Decarbonisation through Hydrogen, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales
“This secondment has been instrumental in driving the project forward. Travelling to Caerphilly each week has allowed me to work closely with the team, build strong relationships across the council, and create the trust needed for effective knowledge‑sharing.
“The flexibility of GW-SHIFT funding – its fast application process, understanding of complex processes, and lack of restrictive criteria – was a major advantage. It has given us the freedom to innovate and address new challenges, including the development of an effective water treatment concept and the assessment of CCBC’s heavy vehicle fleet for hydrogen use.”
Anna Lewis,
Transformation Project Officer,
Caerphilly County Borough Council
“Although full implementation is still ahead of us, we have made significant progress. Advancing our research and development, strengthening the technoeconomic case, and embedding hydrogen knowledge across CCBC.
“The secondment has been instrumental in embedding hydrogen knowledge within the council and wider community. Hydrogen planning, safety, and the technoeconomic case have been key talking points, allowing for a sustainable project future that works for all stakeholders in its practicality and economic viability.
“Hydrogen can reignite a deep-rooted industrial history among communities in the Welsh Valleys, offering new jobs and enriching skills while taking huge strides towards a net-zero future. I encourage local councils to consider hydrogen as a driver for their decarbonisation goals – its application has the potential to be a gamechanger.”
