The Hydrogen Taskforce has welcomed the long-awaited publication of the UK’s Hydrogen Strategy today (17 August 2021) by Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
The strategy, which sets out the UK’s trajectory in hydrogen for the next nine years, has been welcomed by the Taskforce, a coalition of UK organisations operating and innovating in and across the hydrogen sector.
The Taskforce has worked closely with the Government to encourage ambition within the Hydrogen Strategy and has been advising the Government on hydrogen policy since the publication of its report – The role of hydrogen in delivering net zero – in March 2020.
Clare Jackson, co-lead on the Hydrogen Taskforce Secretariat and Head of Innovation – Low Carbon at Gemserv said:
“Today’s Hydrogen Strategy is a landmark moment for the sector. By setting clear direction for the development of the hydrogen sector, it offers a framework which will enable businesses to invest in hydrogen projects.
“This is a vital first step towards unlocking hydrogen’s huge potential for the UK but there is still much to be done to scale up hydrogen solutions. As our research has shown, hydrogen has a crucial role to play in decarbonising industry, generating power, transport and heating homes, while boosting job creation, sustaining local industries and supporting UK innovation in energy.
“We look forward to seeing further crucial steps towards this low carbon future, such as implementation of the Government’s proposed business models for hydrogen. The Taskforce and its members are ready to deliver the vision for a low carbon UK detailed in the Hydrogen Strategy.”
Next month, the Taskforce will launch its Building a Hydrogen Society campaign to highlight the importance of hydrogen in the future energy mix. The campaign will provide local authorities and policymakers with up-to-date information about how low-carbon hydrogen can support the UK’s net zero targets and deliver prosperity across the whole country.
Jackson added: “If the strategy is going to be delivered, we’ll need government, local councils and consumers to support the use of the many applications that hydrogen offers. But public awareness and understanding of hydrogen, its benefits and applications is still limited
“The Taskforce is committed to providing people with the information and tools that they need to participate in a hydrogen society. This campaign is the next step in our mission to ensure that the UK benefits from the opportunities presented by hydrogen.”
Last year the Taskforce also welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment to develop 5GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, and the announcement of £240 million to support this vision.
The Taskforce has been providing evidence to the Government on how hydrogen can support the UK’s economic recovery, post-COVID-19. Its landmark economic impact assessment, published in August 2020, forecasted that hydrogen could be worth up to £18bn to the UK and support 75,000 jobs across the UK economy by 2035.
MEDIA CONTACTS
For further information about the Hydrogen Taskforce and the Building a Hydrogen Society campaign, please contact:
James Watson
Madano
M: 078 0939 0666| E: james.watson@madano.com
About the Hydrogen Taskforce
The Taskforce is a coalition of the hydrogen industry’s largest organisations that operate and innovate in across this sector, including Arup, Arval, Baker McKenzie, Baxi, BOC, BNP Paribas, BP, Cadent, Centrica, DNV, EDF, ITM Power, Johnson Matthey, Northern Gas Networks, Ørsted, SGN, Shell, SSE Thermal, and Uniper. The Taskforce’s aim is to secure the role of hydrogen in the UK’s future energy mix. For more, visit https://www.hydrogentaskforce.co.uk
