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position. Next, the UK’s existing supply
chains and skills can play a huge role
in both the build-out of renewables and
gas infrastructure. Crucially, the UK
workforce possesses the skills required
to run these assets safely.
Thirdly, Paul believes academic
excellence in the UK is second to none
with lots of exciting developments in PAUL BOGERS
various areas.
Finally, he said, a supportive
government is important both in
terms of creating skills and having
a twin track approach that does not
distinguish between green and blue
hydrogen, instead recognising that both
have a significant role to play in the UK.
“I think that the UK has got a lot
of cards in its hand. It is important,
though, that we play the game, that we
take advantage of these natural cards “During the pandemic, we’ve Paul would like to see in this? In his
that we have been dealt,” he said. seen so much alliance with response, Paul noted that this is a very
The challenge now, according to Paul, important document and said there are
is: “How do we put in place the pieces the Paris goals... if we can get three things he’d like to see: firstly, that
that create the roadmap to a hydrogen some of the largest emitters on it sets out long term incentive schemes;
economy from now to 2030?” He sees board with this plan, with the secondly, that there’s an interplay
two main challenges for hydrogen to between business models for CCUS,
take off: cost and matched supply and new administration in the US renewables and hydrogen; and thirdly,
demand. Paul says that these need and maybe the warming up of that it covers what the government will
to be worked through so that, when relations with China, this is a do to help create demand for hydrogen.
costs come down over time, hydrogen fantastic opportunity” When asked what he hopes will come
becomes the preferred option. out of COP26 at the end of the year,
There are a number of requirements Paul said: “During the pandemic, we’ve
that Paul sees as being necessary for about one country or team outsmarting seen so much alliance with the Paris
success. The first of which is building another. Instead, “it’s really about goals” and expressed positivity about
cross-sectoral demand – we need to international collaboration if we want this convergence, saying that he thinks
“not just look at one sector in isolation, to get these really big projects over the that “if we can get some of the largest
but looking at what one sector can do goal line,” he said. emitters on board with this plan, with
for another is really critical to building Concluding his lecture, Paul said that the new administration in the US and
an energy system built on hydrogen”. “we tend to overestimate the impact maybe the warming up of relations with
Supportive policies (both long and of new technology in the short run, China, this is a fantastic opportunity”.
short term) are also seen as key for Paul. but underestimate it in the long run”, “The decisions we make in the next
“Trying to fund first-of-a-kind adding that this is very much true in five years on hydrogen will determine
projects, trying to obtain government what has been seen in areas such as whether, in ten year’s time, this
subsidies to get projects and renewables and electric mobility and he is either a platform for growth – a
consortiums off the ground is great has no doubt that the same will be true business that will take off – or another
and will help the learning, but it won’t when it comes to hydrogen. false dawn for hydrogen, so we feel a lot
create an investment environment The event wrapped up with a Q&A of personal vested interest in making
in which large companies can take session with host Ben Clarke, IGEM’s that a success,” he concluded.
long-term decisions, so having President Elect, in which various If you missed the lecture, a recording
mechanisms and long-term incentives topics were covered. can now be viewed on IGEMtv, and
that companies can rely on is far more When asked which big emitter places for the remaining lectures in the
important,” he says. “We need both, country he believes is ahead with Henry Cavendish series can be booked
but long-term policies, structure and hydrogen, Paul said that he thinks on the IGEM website.
business models are important”. China is holding a lot of the right cards
Clear definitions and standards are for moving fast in the hydrogen space,
also imperative for Paul. He said: “It’s but the only place he can see that has Coming soon in the Henry
hard to overstate how important it is to a coherent strategy and set of policies Cavendish Lecture series
move away from simplistic definitions in place is the state of California. 23 June: Nilay Shah
and look at the only thing that matters He believes that “if that set of rules
which is the carbon intensity of hydrogen permeates, you could see that things 26 August: Buta Atwal
and making sure the definition is clear could move very quickly in the US but 27 October: Richard Halsey
and the regulation falls into place.” driven by completely different policies”.
Finally, he regards international The UK government will publish 24 November: Post COP26 Panel
collaboration as a key requirement, its long-awaited Hydrogen Strategy Discussion
saying that this is not a competition soon, so what are the key things that

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