Liverpool-based DefProc Engineering has become one of only ten North West companies to secure a place on this year’s Hydrogen Innovation Challenge.
The Hydrogen Innovation Challenge from Sustainable Ventures – Europe’s leading climate tech hub – brings together groundbreaking innovators and established businesses in the North West of England to accelerate change towards a low-carbon economy.
Multi-disciplinary design engineers, DefProc submitted its Smart Gas Pressure Sensor for the challenge.
Developed for Northern Gas Networks, the Smart Gas Pressure Sensor monitors low-pressure gas supply at NGN’s Low Thornley site near Gateshead; successful testing and trials will see it rolled out to consumers across Yorkshire, the North East and Cumbria.
DefProc Engineering will now receive one-to-one support for the rest of the year and the opportunity to present the Smart Gas Pressure Sensor at an innovation showcase in front of potential partners and regional end users.
The aim is that the Hydrogen Innovation Challenge will connect DefProc Engineering to a wider network of gas distributors looking to decarbonise their networks through innovation.
Jen Fenner, managing director and co-founder of DefProc Engineering, said:
“The Hydrogen Innovation Challenge is an incredible opportunity to showcase our capabilities as end-to-end design engineers and a market-leading innovation partner.
“We’ve worked on some revolutionary projects in recent years and the support from the Hydrogen Innovation Challenge will allow us to present these to a wider network of potential clients and make a tangible difference to the future of sustainability.”
In addition to the Smart Gas Pressure Sensor, which works with natural gas, blended hydrogen supply or 100% hydrogen, DefProc Engineering has designed and delivered the UK’s first low-cost domestic hydrogen sensor, H2Go for the EIC, Northern Gas Networks and Wales and West Utilities.
Similar to the look and operation of a traditional smoke alarm, H2Go will be the basis for manufactured domestic hydrogen sensors in the future.
Lee-Ann Perkins, Sustainable Ventures hydrogen program manager, added:
“Through the Hydrogen Innovation Challenge, we’re empowering startups to lead the charge in the UK’s energy transition, providing the tools and partnerships to bring innovations to market.”
Earlier this year, DefProc Engineering was also one of five pioneering UK businesses chosen for a new Hydrogen Sensor Accelerator Programme with Digital Catapult, a first-of-its-kind eight-week programme to deliver the UK strategy for hydrogen technology.