Wrexham University has set out plans for a modular laboratory dedicated to green hydrogen research. Planning documents submitted to Wrexham County Borough Council outline a facility built from prefabricated container-style units, positioned between the university’s main campus building and the sports centre.
The lab will form part of the institution’s new engineering complex, providing an applied research base for hydrogen production and use cases.
The project is framed around green hydrogen, produced via electrolysis powered by renewable energy. With hydrogen positioned as a critical fuel for hard-to-decarbonize sectors, the facility will enable the university to experiment with scalable production pathways without storing large volumes of gas on site.
According to the plans, the lab will house a hydrogen electrolyzer, two fume cupboards, and changing facilities for students, while hydrogen will be generated on-demand to reduce safety risks. The approach reflects broader sector priorities: building experimental capacity while addressing regulatory and operational concerns around storage.
For Wrexham University, the facility also marks a step toward embedding hydrogen engineering within its curriculum and research partnerships. Research Associate Barry Johnston, who will lead the lab, has stressed the importance of aligning academic research with industry collaboration, particularly in decarbonization-focused applications.
The lab’s design also considers the sensitivities of the Grade II-listed main building, with screening measures such as trees and shrubs proposed to minimize visual impact. If approved, the facility positions North Wales as a contributor to the UK’s growing green hydrogen research landscape, where modular and flexible infrastructure is increasingly seen as a cost-effective way to advance early-stage innovation.
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