Trade association for the hydrogen sector, the Hydrogen Energy Association (HEA), is drawing on its expertise as a national authority to drive the establishment and success of GB Energy.
With hydrogen identified as a cornerstone of the Government’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission, the HEA has submitted a roadmap which highlights hydrogen’s role in decarbonisation, economic growth, and energy resilience.
The new paper highlights hydrogen’s pivotal role in realising the UK’s ambitious goals for clean energy, economic growth, and energy security.
It underscores how GB Energy can spearhead hydrogen’s development through targeted investment, risk management, and collaboration with industry leaders.
The HEA has outlined recommendations in alignment with the five key functions announced for Great British Energy including investing in and owning renewable energy projects and building investor confidence, developing clean energy projects in partnership with the Crown Estate, investing in inland hydrogen hubs and ports to facilitate hydrogen trade and incentivising local power through the Local Power Plan.
It also includes building clean energy supply chains in the UK and supporting initiatives like the Green Industries Growth Accelerator (GIGA) to strengthen sustainable clean energy supply chains and working with Great British Nuclear on new nuclear projects.
One area the HEA has identified where GB Energy could play a particularly important role is to act as a risk-taking intermediary – pooling the production of hydrogen and the demand for hydrogen to reduce risk and help the system operate as efficiently as possible. If GB Energy were to take this on, the HEA outlined, it would be extremely beneficial for the industry as a whole.
Celia Greaves, HEA’s CEO, said, “With hydrogen poised to revolutionise energy systems worldwide, the UK has a unique opportunity to lead. By integrating hydrogen into the pillars of GB Energy, we can deliver a cleaner, more resilient energy future while unlocking huge economic potential.”
The HEA, which represents more than 200,000 employees globally, with combined revenues more than £400 billion, is inviting GB Energy to work closely with the association and its members across the value chain to ensure hydrogen plays its full part in delivering on the UK’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission.
Read the full paper, Hydrogen Energy Association GB Energy submission, here.
