Bid to make hydrogen key to rural power resilience
From the edges of quiet villages to vast swathes of open countryside, rural regions could get more reliable power supplies thanks to a new innovation being trialled by UK Power Networks.
As the shift towards electrified heating, transport and appliances accelerates, rural communities could benefit from new technology that strengthens reliability of the local electricity network and support the UK’s clean energy transition.
UK Power Networks is developing a first-of-its-kind hydrogen backup system called SHARED (which stands for Smart Hydrogen and Resilient Energy Decarbonisation) that can automatically restore power within seconds during power cuts, helping make rural electricity supplies more reliable and using less carbon.
Working in partnership with hydrogen specialists, The First Element, and engineering experts Frazer Nash Consultancy, UK Power Networks is developing a modular hydrogen system capable of activating automatically when a fault or damage hits the electricity network. The system makes hydrogen to store energy when demand for electricity is low, such as overnight. This hydrogen is then stored safely on site and converted back into electricity through a fuel cell when needed.
By restoring power remotely and within seconds, the system reduces reliance on diesel generators, which typically have to be transported on a lorry, to rural locations. The system can be monitored continuously, allowing for quick action when needed and reducing the need for engineers to travel to site. Its modular design is designed to be scaled up, meaning it can support anything from a single home to an entire village, offering backup power for short interruptions as well as much longer outages.
The project is now focusing on developing the first of a kind unit, identifying the types of rural locations where it could be used, and testing the design requirements.
David Francis, head of investment management and innovation at UK Power Networks, said: “SHARED gives us a chance to bring our rural customers the benefit of a more reliable power supply, and in a low carbon environmentally-friendly way. By using low cost hydrogen that can step in automatically during a power cut, we are exploring the potential to restore power in seconds.
“This next phase of development is an exciting step towards bringing that vision to life, and it has the potential to make a real difference to those living and working in some of the deepest countryside across the East of England and the South East.”
Amy Hedger, co-founder at The First Element, said: "Rural communities deserve energy resilience that's fit for the future, and we're thrilled to be working with UK Power Networks where teams are relentlessly focused on innovation to benefit their customers. Project SHARED represents a real opportunity to demonstrate hydrogen's unique ability to store clean energy, and the power of our Smart Device to restore it swiftly.”
Published: 21/05/2026
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As the shift towards electrified heating, transport and appliances accelerates, rural communities could benefit from new technology that strengthens reliability of the local electricity network and support the UK’s clean energy transition.
UK Power Networks is developing a first-of-its-kind hydrogen backup system called SHARED (which stands for Smart Hydrogen and Resilient Energy Decarbonisation) that can automatically restore power within seconds during power cuts, helping make rural electricity supplies more reliable and using less carbon.
Working in partnership with hydrogen specialists, The First Element, and engineering experts Frazer Nash Consultancy, UK Power Networks is developing a modular hydrogen system capable of activating automatically when a fault or damage hits the electricity network. The system makes hydrogen to store energy when demand for electricity is low, such as overnight. This hydrogen is then stored safely on site and converted back into electricity through a fuel cell when needed.
By restoring power remotely and within seconds, the system reduces reliance on diesel generators, which typically have to be transported on a lorry, to rural locations. The system can be monitored continuously, allowing for quick action when needed and reducing the need for engineers to travel to site. Its modular design is designed to be scaled up, meaning it can support anything from a single home to an entire village, offering backup power for short interruptions as well as much longer outages.
The project is now focusing on developing the first of a kind unit, identifying the types of rural locations where it could be used, and testing the design requirements.
David Francis, head of investment management and innovation at UK Power Networks, said: “SHARED gives us a chance to bring our rural customers the benefit of a more reliable power supply, and in a low carbon environmentally-friendly way. By using low cost hydrogen that can step in automatically during a power cut, we are exploring the potential to restore power in seconds.
“This next phase of development is an exciting step towards bringing that vision to life, and it has the potential to make a real difference to those living and working in some of the deepest countryside across the East of England and the South East.”
Amy Hedger, co-founder at The First Element, said: "Rural communities deserve energy resilience that's fit for the future, and we're thrilled to be working with UK Power Networks where teams are relentlessly focused on innovation to benefit their customers. Project SHARED represents a real opportunity to demonstrate hydrogen's unique ability to store clean energy, and the power of our Smart Device to restore it swiftly.”
Published: 21/05/2026
Back to news