Both options have their advantages and disadvantages against different demand sectors. Renewable power from wind and solar is truly green at the point of generation, whereas hydrogen must be produced from another primary energy source. Battery technology isn’t yet mature in terms of scale and cost to provide a solution for dispatchable power and system resilience, and is unlikely to be sufficiently developed within the required current timeframes. Hydrogen stores energy indefinitely until it is needed and provides a solution to the ‘hard to electrify’ end use demands, such as heavy transport, space heating and some industrial applications.

Running from October 18-27 – on the approach to the much-publicised UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow – the Decarbonised Gas Alliance (DGA) Roadshow will demonstrate that these society essentials such as industry, transport and heat can decarbonise using hydrogen.

A hydrogen car will be making its way around the country, visiting multiple ground-breaking projects along its route, as part of #GettingNetZeroDone.

The UK Roadshow will see nine innovative organisations from around the country, drive conversation around the role of hydrogen on the road to a net zero nation and how hydrogen can play a role in safely, quickly and cost-effectively decarbonising UK infrastructure.

Locations include Equinor’s Hydrogen-to-Humber (H2H) Saltend project, Pilkington Glass, where hydrogen is being trialled to power the furnace, and Northern Gas Networks’ Hydrogen House – the UK’s first homes to feature 100% hydrogen gas appliances. Other ‘stops’ include Johnson Matthey, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, DNV and the Shell Learning Zone at the Aberdeen Science Centre.

Increased adoption of hydrogen would provide the country with a stable pathway to net zero emissions, believes DGA Chair Chris Barron and Director of Gas Networks at Costain.

“Hydrogen – like many other decarbonised gases – can help us meet the UK’s ever-pressing need for net zero climate emissions, at low cost, with minimal disruption, and while creating thousands of sustainable jobs across the country,” he said.

“It has a particularly valuable role to play in the notoriously hard to decarbonise sectors – heavy transport, industry and heat. As a nation, we rely heavily on these industries, but they account for over 40% of UK greenhouse gases. They’re therefore the elephant in the room if we don’t work together to create a deliverable pathway to a net zero energy infrastructure.”

Follow the Roadshow or get involved with the conversation on social media – #GettingNetZeroDone.