Hydrogen

Powering the next era of clean, high-performance fluid power

Hydrogen is rapidly moving from “future fuel” to real-world deployment—helping industries decarbonise while maintaining the high-power density and reliability needed for heavy-duty applications. For the fluid power sector, this transition presents a major opportunity: hydraulics and pneumatics will play a critical role in enabling hydrogen production, compression, storage, distribution, and end-use systems—safely, efficiently, and at scale.

Whether supporting renewable energy integration, clean mobility, or low-carbon manufacturing, hydrogen is becoming a key part of the energy mix. And as adoption accelerates, the demand for robust fluid power solutions—designed for new operating conditions, materials compatibility, and emerging standards—will only grow.

Why hydrogen matters to the fluid power industry

Hydrogen is important because it tackles one of the biggest challenges facing heavy industry and transport: how to reduce emissions in applications where electrification alone can be difficult. Hydrogen supports decarbonisation pathways in areas such as:

Industrial processes (e.g., high-temperature heating, refining, steelmaking)
Heavy-duty and long-range mobility (where energy density and uptime are critical)
Power generation and energy storage (balancing intermittent renewables)
Ports, construction, agriculture, rail and marine (demanding duty cycles and harsh environments)

Across these sectors, fluid power systems are fundamental—delivering motion control, force, precision, safety, and reliability in challenging conditions. Hydrogen infrastructure and hydrogen-powered equipment will require many of the same strengths the fluid power industry already provides—while also introducing new technical requirements that create a strong case for innovation and collaboration.

Where fluid power fits in the hydrogen value chain

Hydrogen systems rely on controlled power, sealing integrity, and dependable actuation. That’s where fluid power excels. Key touchpoints include:

1) Production (including electrolysis)

Electrolyser plants and supporting infrastructure require dependable fluid power for:

Valve actuation and process control
Cooling circuits and thermal management support
Pressure regulation, filtration, and condition monitoring
Maintenance equipment, lifting, and handling systems

2) Compression, storage, and distribution

Hydrogen must often be compressed and stored at high pressures, which increases demand for:

High-integrity sealing solutions
Materials compatibility expertise
Leak minimisation and robust connection technologies
Hydraulic/pneumatic actuation for high-pressure components

3) End-use equipment (mobility, industrial, power)

In hydrogen-powered applications, fluid power remains essential for:

Primary machine functions (lifting, steering, braking, clamping, positioning)
Auxiliary systems (cooling, air management, safety shut-off functions)
Reliability under vibration, load cycles, and extreme temperatures

In short: as hydrogen ecosystems expand, fluid power will be an enabling technology—supporting performance, productivity, and safety.

A rapidly evolving technology — and a fast-moving landscape

Hydrogen is developing at pace. Across the UK and globally, investment is accelerating in production capacity, infrastructure projects, and end-use equipment. Alongside this growth comes a wave of technical evolution that directly impacts fluid power design and supply chains, including:

Higher pressures and tighter leakage expectations
New materials, coatings, and sealing strategies
Cleanliness, contamination control, and compatibility requirements
Greater focus on safety, testing, and certification
Emerging standards and best-practice guidance
Digital monitoring to support reliability and predictive maintenance

For the fluid power community, this is an exciting moment: hydrogen is creating a space where engineering capability, practical know-how, and trusted reliability are vital—opening opportunities to develop new products, partner on innovation, and support customers navigating unfamiliar requirements.

Opportunities for BFPA members

Hydrogen is not just an energy story—it’s a manufacturing, engineering, and supply-chain story. For BFPA members, the opportunity spans:

Component innovation (seals, valves, hoses, fittings, filtration, sensors)
System integration (pack design, safety architecture, testing methodologies)
Service and lifecycle support (maintenance, retrofit, diagnostics, training)
Standards and compliance readiness (documentation, traceability, validation)
Cross-sector collaboration (energy, transport, industrial users, academia)

As hydrogen projects scale, customers will seek partners who can deliver not only products, but confidence—in safety, reliability, performance, and long-term support.

How BFPA supports the hydrogen journey

BFPA is committed to helping the fluid power industry engage with hydrogen in a way that is practical, informed, and opportunity-focused. We aim to support members through:

Knowledge sharing and technical insight
Industry discussion and collaboration opportunities
Signposting relevant standards and emerging requirements
Helping members understand new application needs and market direction
Promoting the role of fluid power in enabling hydrogen systems

If your business is already active in hydrogen—or exploring where your expertise can contribute—BFPA can help you connect, learn, and stay ahead as this technology evolves.

Get involved

Hydrogen is evolving quickly—and the organisations that engage early will help shape how the market develops.

Interested in contributing, collaborating, or showcasing hydrogen-related capability? We’d love to hear from you, please email hydrogen@bfpa.co.uk