Energy Secretary says production of hydrogen from renewable and nuclear will be highly significant

When it comes to discussions around the role of hydrogen in the transition away from fossil fuels there’s been a shift in the language used at the top of Government.  And as the IPCC issues its stark and ‘final warnings’ re climate change we’re starting to see rhetoric exchanged for actual deal making and significant plans developing in the hydrogen sector.

This week the UK energy secretary, Grant Shapps, stated that the production of hydrogen using surplus renewable and nuclear energy sources will be highly significant.

According to Mr.Shapps the UK will soon announce a series of policy measures regarding clean hydrogen, which he believes will be transformative for the industry, akin to a “Big Bang” moment.

Last week, while being questioned by the House of Commons Environmental Audit select committee, Shapps stated multiple times that he could not provide complete answers to certain questions as a new hydrogen strategy was about to be released. It’s what the rapidly growing but nascent hydrogen industry is looking forward to.

The IPCC has issued stark and ‘final warnings’ re climate change and the urgent need to decarbonise our economies with a ‘now or never’ moment.

“What’s really interesting is at night time, those [cost] figures can turn negative and that can be a windy night where we haven’t really got much to do with the energy… if we could use that energy and convert it into hydrogen at that point in time, that would be incredible.

“The same with nuclear power…when there’s high renewables going on and we don’t need that baseload…you could turn it into hydrogen, then you can see how this whole ecosystem can, and I think will, be very, very significant in the future.”

When questioned about the timeline for the large-scale production of green or blue hydrogen in the UK, Shapps responded by saying that a significant announcement was forthcoming. He stated, “There’s a big bang moment with a lot of information coming your way very soon. You’ll actually have actual timescales, almost dates attached to it.”

Shapps provided some hints about the potential contents of the new policies, expressing his belief in the value of blending 20% hydrogen into the natural gas network and describing the use of surplus energy to produce green or pink hydrogen as “incredible.”

Last week, while being questioned by the House of Commons Environmental Audit select committee, Energy Secretrary Grant Shapps stated that a new hydrogen strategy was about to be released. It’s what the rapidly growing but nascent UK hydrogen industry is looking forward to.

Extensive trials and tests in UK and other countries are still ongoing for hydrogen in the home, and although early results have been positive, safety, cost and efficiency all still under the microscope.

During the committee hearing, Shapps revealed that he spends nights reviewing a website that provides real-time information on the sources of the UK’s electricity and the cost per MWh.

By the end of 2025, the UK aims to produce 1GW of green hydrogen and 1GW of blue hydrogen, as well as 10GW of clean hydrogen by 2030, with at least half of the production through electrolysis.

One thing is certain: clean hydrogen has the potential to transform the global energy landscape by providing a versatile, low-carbon fuel that can support the transition to a sustainable and renewable future.

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