A group calling itself the The North West Hydrogen Alliance has published a manifesto calling on government to move forward in ramping up hydrogen production and infrastructure across the country.
The document sets out a number of recommendations that the newly-created organization says are essential for the UK to capitalize on the hydrogen opportunity – which it is estimated will create 100,000 jobs and £13bn ($16.3bn) for British economy by 2050.
The group is urging the British government to set a new national target of 20 gigawatts of hydrogen by 2035, with the potential for the North West region alone to deliver up to six gigawatts if supported properly.
The hydrogen manifesto recommendations include:
• Develop hydrogen transport and storage business models and provide interim measures to unlock early infrastructure
• Deliver a national supply chain and skills strategy which reflects the employment needs of different regions and which can support the reskilling and training a net zero future will require
• Review planning processes for hydrogen to provide direction and a framework for new hydrogen infrastructure
• Create a national public engagement program around net zero to prepare consumers and foster public awareness and acceptability
• Legislate for an enabling regulatory environment to unlock investment in electricity infrastructure to support the growth of green hydrogen production
The North West of England is expected to be the first to develop a decarbonized, hydrogen-inclusive energy market and is one of the first two decarbonized energy clusters given government backing. The region is home to over 4GW of production capacity currently being developed – with projects including the hydrogen and carbon capture project HyNet, Trafford Green Hydrogen and First Hydrogen production plans in the major cities of Liverpool and Manchester.
