With growing momentum around hydrogen, the week plans to bring together stakeholders from industry, academia, and government across the UK to celebrate hydrogen with an awareness raising campaign.

Headed up by the North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA), it aims to bring unify all regions of the UK to progress the nation’s role in the emerging hydrogen economy, and capitalise on the opportunity the sector offers for meeting Net Zero targets, and driving green economic growth.

The launch of the UK week follows on from similar initiatives seen in Europe, which have seemingly brought hydrogen to the forefront of discussions.

2022 saw the third edition of the European Hydrogen Week which heard European Commission Executive Vice-President, Frans Timmermans express deepening support for hydrogen saying it is at the top of the European Green Deal agenda.

Read more: Hydrogen at the top of the European Green Deal agenda, says European Commission Vice-President

The 2021 European Hydrogen Week witnessed the launch off the Clean Hydrogen Partnership which took over all existing Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) activities, with aims of accelerating the development and deployment of a European value chain for hydrogen technologies.

Read more: Clean Hydrogen Partnership launched at European Hydrogen Week

Commenting on the launch of the UK week, Prof. Joe Howe, Chair of the NWHA and Executive Director of the Energy Research Institute at the University of Chester, said, “The last few years have seen hydrogen rising in prominence in the Net Zero agenda.

“It’s now recognised as critical to delivering on our decarbonisation targets. While there are a number of regions that are already delivering on hydrogen projects, if we really want to capitalise on this huge opportunity the UK needs to collaborate.

“Hydrogen Week will bring everyone together to raise awareness of the role that hydrogen can play in tackling climate change. I’d urge anyone who’s got an interest in hydrogen, whether that’s a big business, community group or school, to get involved.”

H2 View understands organisations including Hydrogen UK, and the Decarbonised Gas Alliance and supporters Peel NRE, Cadent, Costain, Progressive Energy, Vertex Hydrogen, BOC, Inovyn, and Kent have announced their commitment to the week.

“The inaugural UK Hydrogen Week couldn’t come at a more crucial time,” said Clare Jackson, Chief Executive of Hydrogen UK. “The UK has an incredible opportunity to become a world leader in low-carbon hydrogen, but this will only materialise if government, industry, and the public work together to make this a reality.”

Jackson added, “We hope that UK Hydrogen Week can be a springboard for engaging a greater audience around the incredible benefits of hydrogen in delivering Net Zero!”

More information can be found here.