Unlocking the hydrogen economy of the future

Green hydrogen, produced through electrolysis with a renewable electricity source, has a key role to play in global decarbonisation. It has been identified as an energy source for the future, especially for mobility, transport and heavy industries, from refineries to chemical companies. Hydrogen and other low-emission alternative fuels are expected to make a significant contribution to energy supply by 2050, and we are helping to build the hydrogen economy of tomorrow. Across different IMI sectors and at every stage of the hydrogen value chain – from production, storage, transportation and distribution to its use and application – we are developing transformative solutions for our customers.
Process Automation
Our customisable IMI VIVO Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysers transform water into green hydrogen using renewable electricity. We also manufacture low-pressure hydrogen storage vessels and offer a real-time digital dashboard for remote monitoring and diagnostics, preventive and predictive maintenance. In 2023, we successfully delivered and installed complete hydrogen production, storage and monitoring systems for two pilot research projects in the UK. The University of Sheffield, for example, deployed our solutions to study how green hydrogen can produce renewable synthetic fuels to reduce aviation emissions. This year, we gained orders for another pilot research project in Germany and made further strategic progress with our first two orders for industrial applications, one in Europe and the other in the Asia Pacific region.
£11m IMI VIVO orders to date
Transport
Zero-emission fuel cell vehicles, powered by hydrogen, are an exciting growth area for IMI. Our high-flow, motorised fluid control valves are already being used in fuel cell technology for the commercial vehicle market – from local bus systems to trucks. These innovative components control the thermal dynamics and flow of gases going into a cell, enabling greater energy generation. Thermal management of fuel cells is particularly important to the performance of hydrogen vehicles because a fuel cell needs to be kept at the right temperature to maximise fuel efficiency. Unlike traditional engines, they are much more sensitive to temperature changes, with colder weather significantly limiting driving range. We have been applying our expertise and technology, and partnering with our customers to evolve our solutions, enabling them to develop more efficient and robust fuel cells of the future, that all helps advance the green hydrogen economy of tomorrow.
>5,000 Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with our products on board
Fluid Control
We are using our ingenuity and expertise in fluid control valves to support safer, more reliable green hydrogen storage and refuelling station infrastructure. Our products help designers and refuelling station OEMs overcome the challenges of a high-pressure application and achieve regulations such as the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive (TPED) certification with a safe, reliable solution. For example our unique thermal pressure relief device valve, operates via melting at the required temperature without a vial of fluid and helps offer a solution for providing availability of green hydrogen for transportation.