The United Kingdom Government has recently announced a significant investment of £21 million into seven hydrogen projects across the country as part of its efforts to increase hydrogen production in order to meet net-zero targets. It is important to note that most of these projects will focus on producing blue hydrogen.
Four of the selected projects will be developing plans for new hydrogen production plants that will eventually be used by various industries, including pharmaceuticals and automotive companies. The remaining three projects are scheduled to be built in Aberdeen, Tees Valley, and Suffolk.
Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Martin Callanan has expressed the government’s expectation for hydrogen to play a crucial role in decarbonising businesses and transport as the UK works towards achieving its net-zero targets. He further emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting the growing hydrogen industry in the UK, with a recent announcement of over £2 billion for 11 green hydrogen production projects.
It is worth noting that the majority of the UK’s planned hydrogen projects are currently focused on producing blue hydrogen, which is extracted from natural gas with carbon capture used to remove emissions.
The recent funding announcement comes on the heels of the government’s support for several major new hydrogen plants. In early February, it backed the construction of the UK’s first industrial-scale hydrogen plant at the Stanlow oil refinery. However, plans to use the hydrogen produced to fuel the oil refinery have drawn criticism from environmental campaigners.
In addition to the UK’s investment in hydrogen projects, a local council recently granted planning permission for Norwegian oil major Equinor’s H2H Saltend hydrogen project in Yorkshire. Both projects are set to produce blue hydrogen rather than green hydrogen, which uses renewables-powered electrolysis to produce clean fuel.
Blue hydrogen has faced scrutiny in recent months, with studies finding it to have a potentially equally or more polluting process than simply burning the gas used in production directly for energy. A research paper published by the US Environmental Defense Fund found that the use of blue or low-carbon hydrogen could increase near-term global warming by 50% compared with burning fossil fuels directly.
The UK’s continued support for hydrogen projects, including the recent funding announcement, reflects the country’s commitment to boosting the fledgling hydrogen industry. As the world works towards a greener and more sustainable future, investments in alternative fuel sources such as hydrogen are crucial for achieving climate goals and reducing carbon emissions.
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