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The Prime Minister has pledged the UK will “invest massively in
hydrogen”, the time for him to deliver on these words in now.
The global hydrogen economy is set to be worth $2.5tr and create
30m jobs by 2050. It is little wonder why governments in Germany,
France, Portugal, Japen, South Korea, Australia are investing
billions into their domestic hydrogen economies. The world-wide
hydrogen race is on. The UK was slow out the blocks on batteries
and wind, we can’t afford to be slow on hydrogen too.
Global success is within our grasp. The UK has best-in-class
academic skills, world first hydrogen boilers and buses, and we
are building the first ever hydrogen gigafactory in Sheffield. We
are also blessed with plenty of wind and water, the key
ingredients to produce clean, green hydrogen.
The private sector is ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with
the Government. Business wants to invest £1.5bn in 'shovel-ready'
hydrogen projects, but ministers need to make some big and bold
statements, underpinned by a UK-wide hydrogen strategy, to
provide confidence and unlock rapid progress forward. The time
for tests and trials of hydrogen vehicles and for heating is
over; to steal on march on our international competitors we must
now move to mass use, commercialisation and drive costs quickly
to maximise export potential.
The buzz phrase in Westminster at the minute is ‘moonshot’, so
let’s take the ambition, boldness and confidence to invest public
funds of the moonshot concept and apply it to hydrogen. Let’s aim
for the UK to create the world's first trillion-dollar hydrogen
business.
There are many credible, achievable moonshot options to explore.
Japan and South Korea are building hydrogen cities, let’s convert
an entire region, such as the Tees Valley, to hydrogen covering
all cars, trains, taxis, vans, emergency vehicles, bin lorries
and heating by 2030. These could all be powered by ‘Made in the
UK’ green hydrogen energy.
The Government is looking at hydrogen for aviation fuel, why not
seek to convert an entire airport to hydrogen power, not just its
planes?
As we take back control of our fishing waters, we could set a
world-first ambition of a zero emission, green fleet of boats,
cargo ships and even the Thames Clipper that goes back and forth
outside Parliament throughout the day. Clean boats for clean
seas.
Only two types of zero emission bus exist - hydrogen and battery.
We have three bus manufacturers in the UK, all make a hydrogen
bus. China makes 99% of the world's battery electric buses. Let’s
put Government investment into a technology where we can win,
rather than play catch up.
Over recent months, the level of parliamentary support for
hydrogen has soared. MPs and Peers of all parties and parts of
the country believe that this is the right move for the UK, and
now is the right time to act. Hydrogen ticks all the boxes the
Prime Minister is looking for - jobs, ‘Red Wall’ economic
rejuvenation, Net Zero, energy security and global trade
opportunities.
It is reported that the Prime Minister will soon make a speech on
routes to Net Zero. He should put hydrogen front and centre of
this and unlock a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the UK to
lead a multi-trillion dollar industry and excite the crowds with
some remarkable clean, green, UK-made hydrogen moonshot projects
