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The impact of climate change is
THE HYDROGEN KNOWLEDGE CENTRE happening now, said Mark, and the we need in this space, or even worse,
was to be part of an issue that led to a
urgency to find planning solutions serious incident,” he said.
is why BEIS was so interested in Echoing Stuart’s comments about
supporting the repository. There collaboration was Keith Owen, who
is an eagerness to keep the pace of spoke from a gas networks perspective,
development up and exploit this saying “it’s not all about gas in this
innovation period of hydrogen, he said, brave new world of net zero.”
sharing knowledge so technology can be “It’s a real strong collaboration across
deployed as soon as possible and we can the energy industry and I think this is
“achieve both net zero but also, more an essential component of that, pulling
importantly, our carbon budgets in the together the vast array of information
coming decades so that we start to drive that’s out there.”
down the impacts of climate change”. Stating that this is a transformative
“We’re delighted to support this time in which we can evolve our skills
initiative and it’s a brilliant start. I and competencies within the next few
am so pleased to hear that there are years, Keith said that “we are right at
so many documents in,” Mark said. the forefront of this and we can really
“I am very optimistic that this will drive that net zero position for the UK
really accelerate the deployment of government and deliver benefits for
“I’ve been incredibly hydrogen,” he added. our economy.”
impressed with how In terms of what’s next from a He added: “I see the Hydrogen
flexible and powerful government perspective, now that Knowledge Centre playing a strong
appliances have been developed, the
role there, being the central place for
hydrogen is as an enabler government will be looking to do a journals and research.”
of net zero technology... domestic trial – as is planned for the Noting that there is already strong
It’s a tremendously H100 project next year and, following collaboration between UK networks,
exciting vector and we see on from that, creating a hydrogen village Keith said that “sharing information
by 2050 and hydrogen town by 2030.
and knowledge and working together
it as a key enabler for net Alongside that, there is an effort to on projects needs to extend further”. In
zero, complementary to develop the supply of hydrogen so that his opinion, the Hydrogen Knowledge
technologies such as the technology can start being deployed, Centre gives the ability for all aspects of
demonstrating its capabilities and safety
the supply chain to understand what is
expanding renewables in industrial applications as well as in needed in each area. Having a broader
power generator.” transport and domestic applications. scope of information allows a more
The next speaker at the event was refined focus on where any gaps are, he
Dr Stuart Hawksworth, who spoke said, and this means more focus can be
about the preparations for hydrogen placed on how to move forward quickly
fund the Hydrogen Knowledge Centre, uptake, also covering hydrogen safety with an accelerated programme.
and spoke of its importance to hydrogen and the importance of collaboration. “As the Chair of IGEM’s Hydrogen
in a wider context. “Collaboration and knowledge sharing Committee and just as an enthusiast
“I’ve been incredibly impressed with is clearly very important,” he said. “The within the industry, I really
how flexible and powerful hydrogen is launch of the Hydrogen Knowledge encourage everybody to get on the
as an enabler of net zero technology,” Centre is important and timely as I think knowledge centre, really start to use
he said. “It’s a tremendously exciting we all now realise that hydrogen will that, contribute and learn from the
vector and we see it as a key enabler have a significant role within the energy information that’s in there and I think
for net zero, complementary to system to allow us to achieve net zero.” that, as a community, we can really start
technologies such as the expanding As safety is clearly one of the to drive a hydrogen economy for the
renewables power generator.” enablers for hydrogen to fulfil its UK,” he concluded.
The key programme that led to BEIS potential, Stuart believes it’s the
supporting the Hydrogen Knowledge responsibility of everyone working IGEM would like to thank key
Centre, according to Mark, was the in this space to ensure that safety contributors the Department for Business,
Hy4Heat programme, which started is appropriately considered and Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS),
three years ago with no foundation addressed at each stage. “We need to International Association for Hydrogen
– “just an idea that we could deploy ensure that we know and understand Safety (HySafe), Health and Safety
hydrogen safely in homes”. The project the behaviour of this flexible energy Executive (HSE), Arup, Hy4Heat, Cadent,
has massively advanced and progressed vector across the supply chain and we National Grid, Northern Gas Networks,
in the years since then and a safety case can then formalise and understand that SGN and Wales & West Utilities.
is being developed in the process. “The knowledge into standards, guidance
safety case requires extensive knowledge and regulations,” he said. IGEM’s Hydrogen Knowledge Centre can
of the characteristics of hydrogen and In Stuart’s opinion, the deployment be accessed at www.h2knowledgecentre.
experience with hydrogen, and that’s of a trained workforce to implement com. Members have instant access to all
where we realised that we really needed these technologies is paramount. “It the Hydrogen Knowledge Centre has to
a definitive repository for hydrogen would be a terrible shame if a shortage offer. If you wish to contribute content to
knowledge to keep the pace of hydrogen of appropriately-trained workers were the Hydrogen Knowledge Centre, please
development up,” said Mark. to impede the rapid deployment that contact us at hydrogen@igem.org.uk.

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IGEMNews_HydrogenKnowledge.indd 2 15/04/2021 14:23