Six trade bodies have called on Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to lay the foundations for a UK-wide hydrogen strategy, coming together to support the Hydrogen Strategy Now campaign.
On 7 July, the group published a letter, with signatories including Hydrogen East, the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (UK HFCA) and RenewableUK, stating that developing a clear, strategic plan will unlock significant private funding in hydrogen technologies and manufacturing across the country, driving growth and generating hundreds of thousands of green jobs. They have joined businesses investing £1.5bn in hydrogen technologies in calling for a UK hydrogen strategy.
The letter – which was also signed by the Midlands Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Network, the British Hydropower Association and HyCymru – set out how the collective believes the UK has the potential to become a global leader in renewable and low carbon hydrogen technology, though must move quickly if this opportunity is to be realised and the maximum economic benefit achieved.
The campaign has set out how a UK-wide hydrogen economy would: create and sustain hundreds of thousands of high-skilled, green jobs across the country and align with the government’s levelling-up agenda; drive progress to net zero and improve air quality in towns and cities; secure private investment into the UK, unlocking export opportunities for products and skills; and increase the UK’s energy security by making fuller use of its natural resources.
