Photo credits: The Hydrogen Conference.
On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the inaugural Hydrogen Conference will be held at Conference Aston on the campus of Aston University, Birmingham. Supported by Hydrogen England, the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA), and HyDEX, the event will bring together representatives from academia, industry, and investment sectors to discuss the current status and future development of hydrogen technologies and the hydrogen economy.
The conference will focus on the central question, “How to build a hydrogen economy?” and will feature six sessions addressing research and partnerships, technology and manufacturing, investment opportunities, UK-specific prospects, recent achievements, and green growth initiatives. Attendees will hear expert presentations, case studies, and participate in panel discussions designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the hydrogen sector’s developments heading into 2026.
Dr. Michaela Kendall, CEO of Adelan Technology, will serve as moderator and panelist throughout the day. Ivan Delibasic, Director of Advocacy at Hydrogen Europe, will deliver the keynote address outlining the sector’s progress and the policy environment in Europe.
The first session on research and partnerships will include presentations by Professor Sara Walker from the University of Birmingham, Dr. Jerry Luo of Cranfield University, and Dr. Dowon Bae of Loughborough University, who will share insights on energy systems integration, storage and harvesting technologies, and engineering solutions for hydrogen infrastructure.
In the session focused on technology and manufacturing, speakers will include Matt Faulks, Chief Innovation Officer at Viritech; Arman Danelya of Jaguar Land Rover; and Archie Watts-Farmer, CEO of Carnot Engines. They will discuss hydrogen-powered mobility, testing capabilities for alternative powertrains, and high-efficiency hydrogen engines. Investment perspectives will be covered by Frédéric Séné of UK Air Products, Philip Cholerton from Novazure, and consultant Stuart Jones, who will discuss commercial opportunities in green hydrogen and ammonia, project financing, and return on investment models. Dr. Kendall will provide further context on scaling innovation.
The conference will also examine UK-specific hydrogen opportunities, featuring Angad Jessel of the Advanced Propulsion Centre and Matt Barney of GeoPura, who will discuss the UK Hydrogen Roadmap and operational deployments in power generation. A fireside discussion on green growth will feature representatives from Storegga and Influence Associates, as well as Neil Golding, Market Intelligence Director at the Energy Industries Council, providing an overview of market trends.
During lunch, the international Hydrogen Awards will be presented. For the first time, recipients will discuss what distinguishes their projects and leads to their recognition, offering attendees insight into the criteria for excellence and innovation in the sector.
Networking will be a core component of the conference, facilitating direct engagement between delegates and speakers. Attendees will have post-event access to speaker presentations, a summary of key issues, and a delegate list to support ongoing collaboration.
The conference will address practical issues such as best practices, partnership models, manufacturing readiness, health and safety considerations, and effective marketing within the hydrogen sector. Overall, the event will underscore the need for cross-sector coordination to advance hydrogen as a viable energy solution.
The Hydrogen Conference 2025 marks a significant step in consolidating knowledge and building a collaborative network within the UK’s expanding hydrogen ecosystem. Its data-driven approach and focus on real-world applications will provide a foundation for measuring progress and setting strategic goals for the hydrogen economy’s future.