June 2021
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This conference examined key policy priorities for supporting the growth of the UK hydrogen industry, and next steps for scaling up infrastructure.
The conference took place in the context of the Government’s Energy White Paper, mapping the approach to energy system development up to 2050, with attention paid to setting targets for hydrogen use, as well as investment and implementation.
We were pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with James Richardson, Chief Economist, National Infrastructure Commission; and Michael Wagner, Deputy Director, Gas Networks Price Controls, Ofgem - along with contributions from British Airways; Burges Salmon; Chester Business School; the Energy Networks Association; the Energy Systems Catapult; Frontier Economics; Guidehouse; Liverpool City Region LEP; ORION Project; Protium Green Solutions; the UK Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association; the University of Chester and North West Hydrogen Alliance; and the University of Edinburgh. The chairs were: Rt Hon Sir Roger Gale MP, Vice Chair, Hydrogen All-Party Parliamentary Group; and Dr Alan Whitehead MP, Shadow Minister for Energy and the Green New Deal.
The agenda focused on the development of:
- the domestic infrastructure, manufacturing and skills base
- policy, market rules and incentives
- commercialisation in energy, heating, power generation and transport
- funding and investment
- the role of hydrogen in the energy mix and industry decarbonisation into the future
The discussion brought together stakeholders with key policy officials who attended from Defra; BEIS; British Consulate-General Vancouver; Cities & Local Growth Unit; Crown Commercial Service; the Department for International Trade; the Department for the Economy, NI; the Department for Transport; the Environment Agency; the Health and Safety Executive; the Infrastructure and Projects Authority; the National Audit Office; the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales; Transport Scotland; The Scottish Government; UK Export Finance; and the Welsh Government; as well as parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament.
The agenda
- The developing role of hydrogen in the UK energy mix, and priorities for infrastructure and policy
- Tackling conversion barriers to hydrogen use across carbon-intensive sectors - repurposing legacy assets, blending clean gas for heat, and working towards net-zero
- Policy to support hydrogen rollout and a route to deploying 5GW by 2030 - long-term guidance for industry, innovation priorities, and affordability
- Establishing the domestic base for hydrogen manufacture - leadership, skills and job creation, and opportunities for regional growth
- Mobilising the domestic hydrogen market - the design of government support for new hydrogen projects and stimulating near term demand
- Tackling barriers to cost-effective large-scale hydrogen power generation and supply - carbon gas grids, and preparing networks and energy infrastructure for hydrogen at a local and national level
- Contributing to net-zero targets - the role of hydrogen in carbon capture, usage and storage capabilities, and decarbonising energy-intensive facilities
- Aviation opportunities for innovation and hydrogen deployment
- Overcoming funding barriers to hydrogen-economy projects - de-risking inward investment, allocating risk, and increasing stakeholder confidence
- Ofgem’s role in Hydrogen
Policy officials who attended:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places were reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament and officials from Defra; BEIS; British Consulate-General Vancouver; Cities & Local Growth Unit; Crown Commercial Service; the Department for International Trade; the Department for the Economy, NI; the Department for Transport; the Environment Agency; the Health and Safety Executive; the Infrastructure and Projects Authority; the National Audit Office; the National Infrastructure Commission; Transport Scotland; The Scottish Government; UK Export Finance; and the Welsh Government.
