Government's hydrogen strategy "welcome but not ambitious enough" says GMB

• We must utilise UK technology and manufacturing to underpin our heating strategy and create thousands of highly skilled new jobs says GMB Union

GMB, the energy union, has responded to the Government’s hydrogen strategy, published today [Tuesday, August 17 2021].

Andy Prendergast, GMB National Secretary, said:

"GMB welcomes this strategy as a key step in the development of hydrogen.

“But we have concerns that the programme is not ambitious enough and will be insufficient for hydrogen development to become a cornerstone of both our energy policy and the transition to net zero.

”5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity is nowhere near enough – we need to go further and need to be bolder.

"It’s also a mistake to highlight the so called ‘success’ of the UK’s offshore wind industry. Turbines and jackets are made overseas, robbing UK manufacturing of much needed investment and skills.

“Our burgeoning hydrogen industry must not make the same mistakes - we must ensure these jobs are on shored.

“Hydrogen is crucial to meeting our net zero targets and crucial for ensuring a proper transition for gas workers.”