The Energy Research Accelerator and HyDEX are delighted to be sponsoring the green Hydrogen Power Generator at the Touch (Rugby) World Cup which is taking place at the University of Nottingham this week.

The sponsorship is enabling the Touch World Cup to use two of Geopura’s HPU green hydrogen generators which are providing clean, green power to the Highfield and Riverside sites in Nottingham where the Touch games will be played.

The Touch World Cup in Nottingham is the biggest one ever, with around 4000 participants (players, coaches, referees and volunteers) from 39 nations, comprising 139 teams playing mixed, mens and womens Touch over several different age categories. Around 10,000 spectators are expected over the course of the week.

An event of this scale – 23 fields spread across two venues for seven days – would normally require the use of diesel generators to supplement mains electricity supply. Instead, two hydrogen powered generators, are providing the supplementary power needed for the event, with zero harmful emissions.

Faye McAnulla, ERA and HyDEX’s programme director, said: “We’re delighted to support Geopura’s green hydrogen generator, which will provide clean power for the World Cup. Geopura is a great innovative local company that we have worked closely with through our HyDEX hydrogen development programme.

“I hope that other sports and concert organisers look at the novel way that the Touch World Cup is powering itself through hydrogen, and realise that there is now a clean, green, cost-effective alternative to petrol and diesel powered generators.”

Matt Barnery from Geopura provided a tour of the hydrogen power unit for guests at the launch of the Touch World Cup, including Professor Veronica Pickering, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Faye McAnulla, Programme Director of HyDEX and the Energy Research Accelerator, and David Cope, Sustainability Advisor for England Touch (all pictured).