Climate change can no longer be ignored. It therefore does not come as a surprise that governments have committed to achieving net zero emissions, which requires taking the necessary steps to reduce emissions in the first instance, and then offset those that remain.

Enabling technologies such as advanced manufacturing and processing are key to achieving our net zero targets. These include autonomous, intelligent, interconnected and quality-oriented manufacturing systems that utilise advanced materials of exceptional properties to create new components and products.

For example, hydrogen is an energy carrier that has zero emissions at the point of consumption and can therefore play an instrumental role for achieving net zero. Large scale hydrogen production, through water electrolysis while utilising electricity produced from renewable sources such as offshore wind, would enable decarbonising areas like heating and the chemical industry. To succeed, materials and processes for the next generation of electrolysers (electrodes, electrolytes, and catalysts), in addition to innovative storage solutions, are of paramount importance.

Delivering the shift to new forms of mobility, like low carbon hydrogen transportation, requires both the manufacturing technologies and the underpinning materials to realise innovations in electric conversion and propulsion, as well as safe and efficient on-board hydrogen fuel storage.