The UK has taken a step forward in green energy, becoming the first country to produce hydrogen at scale while capturing carbon emissions.

Led by the Biorenewables Development Centre at the University of York, the H2Boost project aims to support the UK’s climate targets by providing a sustainable energy alternative.

Traditional hydrogen production releases carbon dioxide, which can be environmentally challenging.

The H2Boost project uses a process called “dark fermentation” to convert pre-treated organic waste into hydrogen, while capturing carbon emissions with bacteria and algae, creating a closed-loop system that limits waste.

Penny Cunningham, Programme Operations Manager at the Biorenewables Development Centre said: “Successfully demonstrating integrated hydrogen production with carbon capture represents a significant technical breakthrough for the H2Boost project.

“Our novel approach to producing clean hydrogen from waste while removing carbon dioxide is not only technically feasible but also holds significant promise for large-scale sustainable energy solutions in the future.”