The Net Zero All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has held its first session as part of its decarbonisation series, focusing on generating net zero energy in power and industry.
On 18 May, the APPG heard from Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, Kwasi Kwarteng, who said that hydrogen has become a significant focus for both his work and BEIS. Kwarteng explained that the main challenge when it comes to trying to kickstart a hydrogen economy is working out how green hydrogen can be created for use. Once carbon capture and storage (CCS) is in place, Kwarteng said blue hydrogen would also be able to play a large role.
Kwarteng agreed with the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) that CCS was a necessity for reaching net zero and, considering the Budget’s support for it, the government should not backtrack. He expected there to be a great expansion of CCS over the next year.
Elsewhere, Dr Rebecca Heaton of the CCC, told the APPG that while the UK has done well in absolute numbers so far, there remains a lack of future policy ambitions or long-term policies, with the majority of emissions reductions happening in the power sector. Professor Keith Bell, Power Sector Specialist at the CCC, added that every sector must get on board, while warning there is not sufficient investment or networks yet for renewables and other green choices, such as hydrogen, to create a green industry. This is something that should be a priority, he said.
The APPG will host its next session, Decarbonising Transport: Accelerating net zero transition, innovation and infrastructure, on 2 June.
