EAC comment: Hydrogen Strategy

Commenting on the Government’s Hydrogen Strategy, Environmental Audit Committee Chairman, Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, said:

"I welcome the eagerly awaited Hydrogen Strategy, which finally gives industry some clarity on the Government’s intention for hydrogen in our low carbon energy mix. When our Committee undertook work on hydrogen last year, we heard that the UK is ahead in terms of technology and understanding, but lacked demand signals from Government through a Hydrogen Strategy required to compete in the global hydrogen economy.  

"While I welcome this step forward, I have to say it is disappointing that only now – after being promised the Strategy in November last year – are the necessary consultations being launched on how to overcome funding issues and how to define ‘low carbon’ hydrogen. These critical issues should have been ironed out in advance of this Strategy. I urge the Government to act swiftly on the outcomes of these consultations. The UK has a strategic advantage from the prospect of generating green hydrogen from surplus offshore renewable energy generation, but the opportunity should not be missed.

“Reflecting our calls last year, I welcome the Government’s move to look into the blending of hydrogen into the existing gas supply. While the twin track approach proposed, supporting both green and blue hydrogen production, is positive, it is also important that substantial capacity for carbon capture is developed, so as to avert release of damaging emissions currently created in blue hydrogen production. At present 95% of hydrogen produced worldwide uses fossil fuel feedstocks, and without action to stem the emissions entailed, the use of hydrogen on the scale envisaged by Government will unlikely get us to Net Zero Britain.”

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