Today, Hydrogen UK a new trade association will be launched with Cadent’s Dr Angela Needle, who has been elected as their Vice President. Angela has taken this opportunity to comment on Hydrogen today and into the future.
What a year it has been for hydrogen. I know its been a hard slog for many in the sector as we grapple with project bids, funding and consultations and the significant effort involved in inspiring and educating a range of individuals in this important topic. And we have a Hydrogen Strategy! It does feel like we are turning a corner, but we must keep the pressure on.
There continues to be absolutely no doubt in my mind that hydrogen will play a crucial role in decarbonisation of the UK and the world. We will not achieve net zero without it in the timeframe needed to avoid catastrophic climate change. The future
needs a gas and that gas is hydrogen.
I joined Cadent a few years ago to make hydrogen happen, I am here with a clear purpose. In the process of finding like minded folk, I came across the Hydrogen Taskforce, where not only the like-minded people hung out, but they had a clear purpose. And that purpose was to provide the evidence across the value chain that would enable hydrogen to scale. It was a place to collaborate and to keep that pressure on. The Economic Impact Assessment produced by the Hydrogen Taskforce last year highlighted a potential for 75,000 jobs and a GVA of £18bn. Benefits that are hard to ignore.
The new Hydrogen UK is being launched this evening and will continue to push for more ambition and innovation in hydrogen to ensure that investment lands here rather than elsewhere. The value of course is in the membership of any trade association. Bringing together organisations from across the value chain for hydrogen – large and small – enables us to see the whole picture and push for the things we need.
Of course, we must not take our foot off the pedal as we move from plans to delivery and that won’t be easy. There are more voices in this sector today and Hydrogen UK will provide a focal point for these. That is why Hydrogen UK are setting up 9 working groups covering the gambit of production, storage and distribution and different uses as well as communications and skills. With the ambition of bringing the evidence and ideas together to continue to push to deliver the right policies and frameworks. Hydrogen UK will also engage with a broader set of stakeholders than before as we know the energy transition impacts on everyone in society.
I am thrilled to be elected as the first Vice President of Hydrogen UK and look forward to working with members and the Hydrogen UK team over the coming months and years as we build a world class hydrogen economy in the UK.
Hydrogen UK will be launching a new report this evening Hydrogen in the UK - Moving from Strategy to Delivery
Links will go live after 6pm 24/11/2021
Hydrogen UK website: https://hydrogen-uk.org/
Hydrogen UK report -
https://hydrogen-uk.org/publications Hydrogen in the UK - Moving from Strategy to Delivery
Twitter Handle: @h2ukorg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hydrogen-uk