Underground hydrogen storage demonstrator DEVEX support
Underground hydrogen storage demonstrator DEVEX support backs business-led teams with development studies to reduce investment barriers and advance UK underground hydrogen storage towards deployment.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: January 13, 2027, 11:00am UK time (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: £200,000–£750,000 per project for 6–12 months; up to £1.5 million total
Summary: Supports project development studies advancing UK underground hydrogen storage demonstrators towards investment readiness and deployment.
Key Information: A UK registered business must lead; academic institutions may collaborate but cannot apply alone.
Description
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), through Innovate UK and the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme, funds project development studies for underground hydrogen storage (UHS) demonstrators. Part of the Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage Challenge, this competition supports early-stage FEL-1 or FEL-2 opportunities progressing towards FEL-3-complete, commercially credible, materially de-risked propositions capable of reaching final investment decision (FID).
Projects must generate evidence and public learning supporting cost-effective UK deployment for the electricity sector, with discharge availability of at least 100 continuous hours. Demonstrators must target initial 10–100 MWh deployment by 2030 and a credible pathway to commercial GWh-scale UK deployment by 2035. Funding supports studies that reduce technical, commercial, consenting and delivery risks, rather than routine development or standalone technology testing.
