Companies Unite to Expedite UK’s Sustainable Hydrogen Infrastructure
In a bid to boost the UK as a frontrunner in renewable hydrogen technologies, a recently established organisation is urging the government to secure a strategic advantage.
The Green Hydrogen Alliance (GHA), a collaborative trade body comprising companies from various sectors within the emerging hydrogen industry, has been unveiled.
The primary objective is to solidify the UK’s global leadership in the research, innovation, and widespread adoption of renewable hydrogen.
The collective effort will enable the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and resources, to accelerate development and technological advancements. The nascent but growing hydrogen economy in the UK is already demonstrating its potential to boost economic growth, create job opportunities, and position the country as a frontrunner in the transition to a sustainable and low-carbon future.
The Green Hydrogen Alliance (GHA) is the collaboration of companies spanning the entire hydrogen supply chain. Notable participants include Airbus, Air Products, Associated British Ports, Tata Steel, and World Kinect. The GHA also benefits from an advisory board comprising esteemed institutions such as Cranfield University and the Thames Estuary Growth Board. Together, they form a diverse coalition.
Industry was responsible for approximately a quarter of global emissions 2021, and its decarbonisation with hydrogen is a focus for the newly formed Green Hydrogen Alliance, along with transport.
The primary objective is to push the substantial opportunities presented by hydrogen energy in key sectors of the UK’s economy, including aviation, road haulage, heavy industry, and power generation.
By highlighting the benefits of hydrogen, the alliance aims to promote its adoption, whilst investigating any initiatives that can help speed up its commercial feasibility.
The newly formed organisation has commended the government’s ambitious goal of achieving 5GW of electrolytic or green hydrogen production capacity by 2030. However, it has also emphasised the need for faster and more comprehensive policy measures to fully unlock the extensive benefits that hydrogen can offer.
To support the growth of green hydrogen, the government has allocated direct funding to several pilot projects and is actively developing new “business models.” These models aim to offer long-term contracts to low carbon hydrogen producers, which industry developers argue are essential for scaling up the nascent sector.
However, concerns have been raised as Ministers have not yet finalised the policy framework for the industry. This uncertainty has sparked fears that hydrogen developers might seek opportunities in the US and EU, where subsidies are already available, potentially resulting in a migration of talent and investment to those markets.
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The GHA is urging the UK government to expedite the development of a robust policy framework that encourages investment in hydrogen production capacity. Failure to do so could result in the UK lagging behind global competitors like Germany and the Netherlands, who have recently outlined strategies to accelerate their own green hydrogen technologies.
Furthermore, the newly established trade body aims to emphasise the vital role of green hydrogen in achieving net-zero emissions. Through the decarbonisation of heavy industry and transportation, as well as providing energy storage and grid balancing services, hydrogen can contribute significantly to a sustainable transition.
The Green Hydrogen Alliance (GHA), a collaborative trade body comprising companies from various sectors within the emerging hydrogen industry, has been unveiled. The primary objective is to solidify the UK’s global leadership in the research, innovation, and widespread adoption of renewable hydrogen.
Included in the results of a recent report investigating the feasibility of zero-emissions aviation, the alliance is highlighting further hydrogen promise. According to the report, with adequate aircraft production capacity, green fuel production, and infrastructure, the entire regional aviation fleet in the UK could potentially be replaced with certified, safe, and zero-emission carbon aircraft by 2040. This demonstrates the potential for a significant shift toward sustainable air travel if the necessary conditions are met.
The alliance has expressed its intention to conduct a comprehensive analysis aimed at identifying any barriers that may hinder the UK from becoming a true global leader in hydrogen; a technology capable of supporting carbon reduction targets, enhancing energy security, and generating numerous renewable energy jobs nationwide.
Emphasising its non-partisan nature, the alliance has affirmed its commitment to collaborating with the government, political parties, civil servants, and industry groups.
A spokesperson for GHA said “Green hydrogen could provide a secure supply of green energy while also helping the UK in its efforts to decarbonise. We look forward to working with policymakers to ensure the country can fulfil its potential in this exciting developing technology.”
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