Hydrogen UK (HUK), the largest trade association for the hydrogen industry in the UK, will today be launching its ‘Hydrogen Accelerators’ at the Conservative Party Conference, providing a blueprint for the continued development of Britain’s entire hydrogen value chain.
The Hydrogen Accelerators are a set of recommendations from the 50 strong industry members directed at Government to ensure successful deployment of hydrogen in the UK. The association’s members have met regularly to discuss pinch points and next steps for the industry, resulting in the hydrogen accelerators.
A year on from the publication of the Hydrogen Strategy, HUK is pushing for rapid scaling of production, greater support for distribution and storage infrastructure, and the creation of demand in end-use sectors.
Commenting on the aim of the Hydrogen Accelerators, HUK CEO Clare Jackson said, “If we truly want Britain to secure a slice of this $2.5tn global hydrogen pie, we need to get our skates on because we are competing with other countries for investment. Hydrogen UK’s Accelerators provide detailed steps that industry and Government must take together to fast-track hydrogen’s progress in the UK, to secure our place as a global leader, create new jobs and economic prosperity and ensure that we deliver net zero cost-effectively.”
The call for urgent action comes as the European Commission announces a €3 billion hydrogen bank for projects and the USA passes the Inflation Reduction Act, creating an attractive proposition for international hydrogen companies. This follows Hydrogen UK’s inaugural Investment Forum in conjunction with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which saw the then Secretary of State, Kwasi Kwarteng, speak about the Government’s desire to see the country take a global leadership role in hydrogen.