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the uk’s hydrogen revolution

and provides the certainty needed in south-west England we’ll soon start IGEM warmly welcomes the publication
to boost consumer and investor safely blending hydrogen into the gas of this much-anticipated strategy. It has
confidence and support commercial network, reducing carbon emissions become clear that a national hydrogen
solutions. Importantly, unlocking the from hundreds of homes immediately. network will be required to provide
potential of hydrogen as a clean energy “We look forward to working with the the storage and flexibility we need
solution requires significant pace and UK and Welsh governments to deliver to safely and securely meet demand
innovation to scale up production, and on this ambitious strategy.” across industry, home heating, power
the guidance from the government will Cadent Chief Strategy and Regulation generation and transport. We look
be key to triggering the investment and Officer Dr Tony Ballance said he forward to continuing our engagement
buy-in needed to achieve this.” welcomed the release of the government’s on the frontline for hydrogen to deliver
Angus McIntosh, Director of Energy Hydrogen Strategy as a great first step in a least-cost, least-disruption outcome
Futures at SGN, said: “The Hydrogen promoting the use of this green gas, but for consumers.”
Strategy is a welcome first step towards added that there are opportunities for the
delivering a world-leading hydrogen UK to go further and faster.
economy in the UK. While we await He said: “It’s great to finally see the “While this Hydrogen Strategy
further details of how ministers intend government’s long-awaited Hydrogen is an excellent start, we believe
to decarbonise heat in the forthcoming Strategy being published. It will help to there are opportunities for
Heat and Buildings Strategy, this accelerate progress towards net zero, the UK to go further and at a
announcement clearly sets out a create new, green jobs across the UK
role for low carbon hydrogen. We and strengthen our energy security. faster pace to ensure we’re at
look forward to working with the UK “We’re particularly supportive of the forefront of the hydrogen
government and colleagues across the plans to introduce the blending of revolution”
the industry to demonstrate the role hydrogen into the wider gas network.
hydrogen can play in heating the It’s a logical, low-risk key steppingstone
homes of our customers and helping that requires no new technology or “IGEM is supportive of mandating
to transform the energy system to net behaviour changes from households; hydrogen-ready appliances as soon as
zero as quickly as possible.” will stimulate millions of pounds of possible to ensure a smooth transition
investment into hydrogen production; to hydrogen. Mandating hydrogen-ready
“The Hydrogen Strategy is a and will save carbon emissions boilers by 2026 will send a strong
welcome first step towards equivalent to removing 2.5 million cars signal to the market to accelerate
from our roads.
production in anticipation of demand,
delivering a world-leading “We believe this should be aligned with manufacturers already well-
hydrogen economy in the with a mandate to introduce hydrogen- prepared for this ramp-up. We look
UK. While we await further ready boilers from 2025. This means forward to collaborating with our
details of how ministers as existing boilers naturally become members on an IGEM response to this
consultation commitment.
defunct, households will replace them
intend to decarbonise heat with green boilers, meaning homes “As the professional engineering
in the forthcoming Heat will be ready to switch to 100 per cent institution for the gas industry, IGEM
and Buildings Strategy, this hydrogen when it’s introduced into is passionate about engineering a
announcement clearly sets out the network in the future. As a result, sustainable gas future. We are working
with the UK gas networks and key
this will mean no major disruption or
a role for low carbon hydrogen” upfront costs for millions of people stakeholders, including HSE, to support
across the UK. the safe transition of the network to a low
Director of Regulation & Asset “So, while this Hydrogen Strategy carbon hydrogen future. Through IGEM’s
Strategy at Wales & West Utilities Sarah is an excellent start, we believe there Gas Quality Working Group we are
Williams said: “It’s great to see the are opportunities for the UK to go supporting the evidence base to change
UK government’s Hydrogen Strategy. further and at a faster pace to ensure gas regulations, allowing for a wider range
Converting the existing safe and reliable we’re at the forefront of the hydrogen of decarbonised gases into the network.
gas network to run on green gas such revolution. We need hydrogen at scale Working with key industry stakeholders
as hydrogen will help millions of to enable us to achieve net zero. We in the IGEM Hydrogen Committee, we will
homeowners play their part in getting to know that in the north-west alone, continue to provide technical standards
net zero. We welcome the government’s 3GW of hydrogen could be produced to facilitate the safe introduction of
consultation on mandating hydrogen- by the HyNet project Cadent is part hydrogen into the gas network.
ready boilers from 2026, which will help of, with up to £2 billion of private “In addition, our HyTechnical project
us all go green while avoiding disruption investment being deployed and is developing new standards for the
to our homes or upfront costs. creating wider economic growth. safe transmission and distribution of
“At Wales & West Utilities, we’re “We will continue to work closely hydrogen.”
focused on a range of projects across with the government to turn hydrogen
Wales and south-west England to targets into carbon reductions and new IGEM recently released a special
demonstrate the role that hydrogen can jobs and hope to see the minister’s hydrogen edition of Gi. Download your
play, and as part of the Gas Goes Green hydrogen ambitions continue to grow.” free copy at www.igem.org.uk or visit our
programme, we’re working to create Hydrogen Knowledge Centre, the world’s
the world’s first zero-carbon gas grid. IGEM’S RESPONSE only digital repository bringing together
Hydrogen can help industry in south Oliver Lancaster, CEO of IGEM, said: hydrogen information from research
Wales preserve existing jobs and create “With hydrogen required at the core of bodies around the globe at
thousands of new ones by 2050, while an affordable net zero energy system, www.h2knowledgecentre.com

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