Hydrogen South West: mapping a visionary path for 2024
As we look ahead to 2024, Andy Clarke, Chair of Hydrogen South West (HSW), shares his views on what the year has to offer for the UK’s nascent hydrogen industry and what HSW and its members will be doing to drive it forward. .
2023 was an important year for hydrogen industries across the world, with policy developments in North America, Europe and the UK set to drive demand for green H2 this year and beyond.
In November, the UK government announced a £960 million commitment for a green industries growth accelerator – with the emergence of new hydrogen projects central to its aims. A month earlier the EU‘s renewable energy directive mandated the increased use of green hydrogen among member states, further emphasising the future role of the fuel in the minds of policy makers there.
Further back, in the summer, the US government published its National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap. Traditionally a bellwether for global trends, the USA’s plan focuses on key sectors including medium and heavy-duty vehicles, maritime and aviation transport, as well as the power sector. This plan also emphasises the importance of regional networks to enable production close to end users.
And with our members and partners including many multi-national companies, the importance of global trends is not lost. In particular, the sector groups identified by the US government have resonated in our many conversations with our partners, members, political leaders and the wider industry across our region this year.
The emergence of these trends led us to establish our four working groups, each representing a pillar of progress in the hydrogen space in the South West and the UK as a whole. These are:
Aviation led by Airbus
Recognising the challenges in decarbonising aviation, HSW, in collaboration with Airbus, is supporting initiatives including Bristol Airport’s Hydrogen Hub, bringing together a network of hydrogen experts to assess the local and global hydrogen supply chains, forecast future hydrogen powered aircraft traffic, and explore how a hydrogen supply at Bristol Airport could also power other forms of transport, such as HGVs and other heavy vehicles. As well as this, easyJet’s Project Acorn aims to introduce hydrogen-powered ground service equipment, which will start the process of using hydrogen airside.
Maritime, led by WSP
The Maritime working group, through regular meetings and targeted events, aims to support existing and identify new hydrogen maritime projects, map regional hydrogen demand and hubs, and enhance sector-focused engagement for regional project delivery. There is already plenty happening in this area, including HSW member Tower Group’s pioneering plans to build the hydrogen plant to supply fuel for vessels at Appledore in North Devon.
Gas Networks, led by Wales and West Utilities (WWU)
WWU is transforming the gas network landscape, integrating hydrogen seamlessly into a resilient and sustainable gas infrastructure. Collaborative projects, including ‘Wastewater to Green Hydrogen’, addresses operational barriers, exploring the potential of repurposing existing gas infrastructure for hydrogen.
Land Transport, led by Costain:
We aim to lead the transition of road vehicles, especially LGVs and HGVs, to hydrogen. The working group focuses on collaboration across the hydrogen life cycle and is defining areas of synergy for collaborative trial projects in 2024. Our approach emphasises the need for a diversification, showcasing how hydrogen, alongside other renewable energies, plays a crucial role in achieving net -zero goals.
Vision for 2030: a scalable hydrogen ecosystem.
This year is not only likely to be one of major changes in the hydrogen sector but in UK politics too. With a general election scheduled for the second half of the year, it is likely that we will also see a change of government.
Under a Labour administration, we would expect to see renewed attention given to the UK’s net zero transition, and with it, greater focus on green hydrogen as a part of any solution. Labour’s pledged £28 billion annual investment in the climate transition, currently set to commence two years into their expected term, will likely involve significant investment in the hydrogen sector, while they have laid out further plans to create new hydrogen jobs and scale up production and manufacturing through the National Wealth Fund and GB Energy.
This will be key in helping the UK regain critical momentum in playing a leading role in the climate transition. Despite the UK being the first major economy to produce a hydrogen strategy and set landmark production targets in 2021 and early 2022, it has undoubtedly lost ground since then as net zero has become a political football and other global players have stolen a march, in particular, the aforementioned US and EU.
HSW will be maintaining its conversations with key stakeholders from across the political spectrum in 2024, and making the case for our ambition to establish a scalable hydrogen ecosystem, encompassing public and private facilities for production, conversion, storage and distribution.
Looking to the future, to 2030 and beyond, our focus is on sustaining investment, and creating a mature, integrated hydrogen ecosystem, crucial for realizing the UK’s broader energy transformation and decarbonisation goals.
As the key regional advocates for hydrogen, HSW shapes policies and addresses challenges through dedicated working groups. Joining HSW provides exclusive access to insights, participation in cutting-edge projects, and involvement in engaging industry events.