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the case for blue hydrogen

dispatchable power and energy storage. What is critical is that there are
In the near-term, blue hydrogen synergies between blue and green KEY MESSAGES
will be the fastest way to deploy large hydrogen, with applications and
volumes of low carbon hydrogen and markets differentiated both temporally
will pave the way for the ramp up of and geographically. Both blue and green Blue hydrogen is essential to the UK
green hydrogen production in the hydrogen enable the decarbonisation government’s net zero ambitions.
longer term – including opening up of hard-to-abate sectors, whilst creating
new distribution systems that can be skilled jobs, new products and services The UK can deploy 10GW of blue
utilised for all types of hydrogen across - and commercialising technologies that hydrogen by 2030 and reach up
the range of applications. the UK can export internationally. to 80GW by 2050 with the right
policy support.
A RELIABLE ENERGY SYSTEM
The UK is well placed to take One element that is often taken for The UK oil and gas industry has
advantage of the opportunities granted, particularly in the UK, is the contributed greatly to the UK’s
from low carbon blue stability and availability of our energy economy, both in terms of tax
hydrogen given the existing, system. A major contributor to this is our revenues and employment – blue
hydrogen provides a route to
extensive gas infrastructure. We have
historic large-scale production an energy system that can deal with the ensure similar levels of support
of natural gas, and the extremes of demand, particularly driven for communities as we transition
government’s commitment by rapid changes in weather. towards net zero.
Not only does the existing gas network
cover the entire country and supply Investing in blue hydrogen today
The UK HFCA supports the UK energy to both industrial and domestic will create significant long-term
government’s strategy of a twin-track customers, but it also connects storage economic opportunities for UK
or technology agnostic approach, facilities that can store gas over long Plc – the UK has the infrastructure,
recognising that both blue and green timeframes and in quantities far in natural resources, geology, skills
hydrogen will play a key role in achieving excess of anything that batteries can and experience to be a world leader
our ambitious decarbonisation goals. currently economically achieve. in blue hydrogen.
Today, the majority of hydrogen Whether we are talking about the
manufactured globally is from the high pressure transmission system, The UK can become a significant
conversion of natural gas to hydrogen, the backbone of our gas infrastructure, blue hydrogen producer, as
with the resulting CO₂ – amounting or the local gas distribution systems well as an importer of CO₂ from
to around three per cent of global that connect over 85 per cent of UK other countries, thus supporting
industrial sector CO₂ emissions – being dwellings, the system is extensive, decarbonisation of other markets
emitted into atmosphere; this is known reliable and an asset that we have and generating income for the
as grey hydrogen. invested in extensively for many years. UK economy.
Most current hydrogen production
is either integrated into a large process, Blue hydrogen can help to Short term thinking must be
for example in the manufacture of avoided to prevent the errors
ammonia or methanol, or is supplied to decarbonise the gas network that encouraged offshoring of
refineries to improve the quality and, thus, prolong the manufacturing opportunities for
of liquid fuels. economic life of our existing the wind industry.
There is therefore not currently a gas infrastructure
large merchant market for hydrogen. With ambition, the UK can become
The key role for low carbon hydrogen an exporter of key skills, services
going forward, as an energy vector, There are over 28,000km of pipeline and materials.
brings with it not only many in the UK and we are fortunate that,
opportunities – particularly in our due to the iron gas main replacement A UK Hydrogen Strategy must
transition to net zero – but also work, much of this has now been have low carbon hydrogen,
challenges that need to be overcome converted to polyethylene piping that irrespective of whether it is blue
if it is to reach its potential. can carry hydrogen without the risk of or green, at its core.
As mentioned earlier, there metal embrittlement.
are multiple sectors where low Blue hydrogen can help to decarbonise
carbon hydrogen will be vital for the gas network and, thus, prolong
decarbonisation. Many of the initial the economic life of our existing gas existing assets we have and maintain a
projects are focused around industrial infrastructure. This has benefits both stable energy system with contributions
clusters, where blue hydrogen can be from a financial perspective, as it from both decarbonised electricity and
produced and service multiple sectors. delays the costs of decommissioning decarbonised gas.
This cluster approach allows the critical the existing gas infrastructure, and also
CCUS infrastructure to be shared with from an environmental perspective, as The UK Hydrogen & Fuel Cell
other industrial producers and users it can reduce and/or avoid the emissions Association is the oldest and largest pan
of CO₂, thereby driving decarbonisation associated with constructing new UK association, dedicated to supporting
of surrounding industries, generating infrastructure (e.g., a massive expansion stakeholders across the entire value chain
new CO₂ exploitation opportunities and of the electricity distribution network of both the hydrogen sector and the fuel
lowering the unit cost of such CCUS as a result of increasing electrification). cell industry. Read the full position paper
infrastructure. We should look at how to optimise the at www.ukhfca.co.uk

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