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The UK has the potential to become a global leader in
renewable and low carbon hydrogen technology, but many
believe we must move fast to realise this opportunity
and achieve the maximum economic benefits. Award-
winning political consultant Rob Dale explains how a UK-
wide hydrogen strategy could unlock significant private
investment in hydrogen technologies and manufacturing
across the country, driving growth and creating green jobs

he economic recovery from the be a first step towards decarbonising
Covid-19 crisis must be green, the gas networks. The potential of
clean, and create jobs. The UK is hydrogen is no longer theoretical
perfectly positioned to become or hypothetical – it is already being
T a world leader in hydrogen, demonstrated in the real world.
predicted to be the next global climate If we are going to make the most
megatrend, so the government’s recent of this opportunity, and not miss the
enthusiasm for it, and the announcement boat as we did with wind power and
that a UK hydrogen strategy will be electric batteries, there are important
published early next year, is a hugely steps that must be taken now before
positive step in the right direction. it is too late. The most important step
Other countries around the world is the need for the upcoming UK-wide
are already putting in place ambitious hydrogen strategy to be world-leading
hydrogen strategies, featuring billions in its ambitions, including significant
of pounds of investment, including financial investment. That is the key
Germany, Japan, China, Australia, demand of the Hydrogen Strategy Now
Canada, and the EU. The UK must do the campaign, which launched in July and
same, or we risk missing the boat. Boris is already backed by over 50 businesses
Johnson has said he wants to “invest across multiple sectors. The UK is well
massively” in hydrogen. It is time for him positioned to become a global leader on
to put his money where his mouth is. hydrogen, with hydrogen buses, boilers,
The exciting thing about hydrogen is trains, and cars all being made right
that, if we get the momentum going, it has here in this country, and with ambitions
the potential to decarbonise our economy to extend that to hydrogen ships and
across a huge number of different areas. even hydrogen planes.
Transport, heating, heavy industry, Beyond this, it is also particularly
even aviation and shipping can all be important to increase the levels of
set along the path to net zero through education around hydrogen, both
the application of hydrogen. within Parliament and across the
The gas networks have a real wider public. Hydrogen is not a new
opportunity to take a huge leap forward technology, but there is still a need to
on decarbonisation through hydrogen. provide politicians and the public with a
The UK’s existing gas infrastructure is greater understanding of how it works in
perfectly suited to the deployment of practice and the advantages it can offer
hydrogen, with minimal disruption to in terms of decarbonising our economy
end users. As hydrogen is already a gas, and our society. One of these advantages
it is easy to transport compared to other is that hydrogen does not require huge
zero carbon energy sources and is also changes in behaviour to implement.
easier to store. Storage is particularly Hydrogen vehicles are refuelled in ways
important because it means supply that will be very familiar to people who
will not be disrupted even during the are used to refuelling standard petrol
coldest weather, when demand for or diesel vehicles, and hydrogen can
heating is highest. be deployed into the heating and gas
We are already seeing hydrogen networks in a way that is virtually the
begin to be deployed in this way in same as how gas is delivered now. This
the UK, with National Grid recently is not the case for other renewable
announcing a £10 million project technologies, which require significant
in the north west of England to test changes to behaviour and, in some
how hydrogen could be used to heat cases, varying degrees of training.
homes and bring down greenhouse One of the other advantages the UK has
gas emissions from industry. Keele when it comes to hydrogen is an existing
University is also running a project and highly skilled manufacturing base
called HyDeploy to demonstrate how with a reliable pipeline of new graduate
blending hydrogen with natural gas for talent. But this is something that will
heating can reduce CO₂ emissions and require attention and investment, both

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