Energy

Meeting the UK’s 2050 net-zero target requires the roll-out of more wind and solar energy and new energy vectors including hydrogen. Adding hydrogen to the existing gas networks in a safe manner requires extensive research and development. In parallel, investment into nuclear fusion energy continues with much progress made but many challenges remaining, often where innovation in materials and manufacturing is key to solving specific issues.

The energy sector is benefitting in a number of ways from Ultima Forma’s materials and manufacturing approach. Typical areas we can assist are as follows;

• Modelling the impact of hydrogen on existing assets and new materials  
• Hydrogen barrier coatings, application methods and test validation 
• Hydrogen permeability and other mechanical testing in hydrogen  
• HIP components incorporating net-shaped canisters – e.g. for ODS steels
• Thermal management systems and heat exchangers  
• Lightweight structures, spaceframes, mechanisms and bracketry 
• Gaseous and liquid hydrogen storage tanks, pipes 
• Low-cost, low-pressure hydrogen storage