The Environment Agency has today published regulatory guidance on
the production of hydrogen from methane with carbon capture,
otherwise known as ‘blue’ hydrogen.
The Agency has worked in consultation with industry, other UK
regulators and academia to develop this guidance.
The guidance will help businesses design and develop industrial
facilities for the production of ‘blue’ hydrogen, a low carbon
energy carrier that is a key feature of the UK’s new hydrogen
strategy, launched in August last year.
Hydrogen itself is a clean fuel that is widely used in
transportation and electricity generation. When consumed in a
fuel cell, the only product is water. ‘Blue’ hydrogen
typically refers to hydrogen which has been made using methane or
other carbon-based gases. The carbon dioxide produced is then
captured ready for long-term geological storage.
Operators wishing to produce ‘blue’ hydrogen in England will need
an environmental permit from the Environment Agency. The guidance
will help businesses meet strict requirements that protect the
environment and communities before they are granted a permit.
Georgina Collins, Director of Regulated Industry at the
Environment Agency said:
The Environment Agency has an important part to play as an
enabler of UK Net Zero and we’ve been working hard to develop
guidance so that operators understand the regulatory requirements
for emerging energy technologies.
Hydrogen is likely to play an important part in our low carbon
future, and as environmental regulator our role is to ensure that
hydrogen production is conducted in a way that protects people
and the environment. Our emerging techniques guidance will go a
long way towards achieving that.
Aradhna Tandon, Policy Manager at Energy UK
said:
We welcome the guidance as an integral step for building
investors’ confidence in new technologies required to meet the
UK’s Net Zero targets. The industry needs a clear understanding
of how these technologies will be regulated so it can be taken
into account in early stages of our design and build processes.
Clare Jackson, Chief Executive at Hydrogen UK
said:
We are thrilled to have supported the Environment Agency to
produce this guidance which will help get hydrogen projects off
the ground and ultimately deliver on the UK’s climate targets.
Approval guidance gives the industry confidence in the future of
hydrogen and we look forward to continuing to work closely with
the Environment Agency
The guidance published by the EA helps companies understand the
risks that must be managed and outlines the available techniques
for preventing or minimising emissions and impacts on the
environment.
As well as providing permitting advice to operators, the guidance
gives an insight to the public on how environmental regulations
and standards are being applied in order to protect communities
from risk of harm.
