The Hydrogen Accelerators are a set of recommendations from members directed at Government to ensure successful deployment of hydrogen in the UK. The Association’s members regularly meet to discuss pinch points and next steps – 13 have signed up since April, growing membership to 46.

A year on from the publication of the Hydrogen Strategy, HUK is pushing for rapid scaling of production, greater support for distribution and storage infrastructure, and the creation of demand in end-use sectors.

CEO Clare Jackson said if the UK wants to secure a slice of the $2.5trn global hydrogen pie, “we need to get our skates on” because it is competing with other countries for investment.

“Hydrogen UK’s Accelerators provide detailed steps that industry and Government must take together to fast-track hydrogen’s progress in the UK, to secure our place as a global leader, create new jobs and economic prosperity and ensure that we deliver net zero cost effectively,” she said.

The call for urgent action comes as the European Commission announces a €3bn hydrogen bank for projects and the USA passes the Inflation Reducing Act, creating an attractive proposition for international hydrogen companies. 

Geen hydrogen producer Lhyfe, Levidian, ExxonMobil, Spirit Energy and Vertex Hydrogen, which is building the UK’s first low-carbon hydrogen production plant, have come onboard, while those from the storage and transport sector include Snam, H2GO Power, Phillips 66, Clugston and First Hydrogen.

It follows Hydrogen UK’s inaugural Investment Forum in conjunction with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which saw the then Secretary of State, Kwasi Kwarteng, speak about the Government’s desire to see the country take on a global leadership role in hydrogen.

Yesterday Carlton Power secured planning permission for the development of the 200MW Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme, the city’s first low-carbon hydrogen fuel hub.

The £300m scheme, first announced in March 2021, is now the UK’s largest consented green hydrogen scheme, according to a statement.

The drive to grow hydrogen and clean energy, also mirrored by the Labour Party – which unveiled plans to launch a state-run energy company – comes against a precarious changeable backdrop of rising prices, constrained supplies, geopolitical uncertainty, and new UK government.

Read more:  A new PM – a new shade of support for UK hydrogen?