RE: SP...7 Apr 2022 15:15
We have virtually no low-carbon hydrogen in our system today – but technology is making this a near-term reality with vast potential applications. By investing in the North Sea, renewables and nuclear through this plan, the UK is well-placed to exploit all forms of low carbon hydrogen production. Our drive on renewables makes green hydrogen especially valuable for flexibility and as a storage solution. Excess renewable electricity used to produce hydrogen can be stored over time and used to power the grid when needed. We will double our UK ambition for hydrogen production to up to 10GW by 2030, with at least half of this from electrolytic hydrogen.
Hydrogen has many uses, for example, the first car to use a hydrogen fuel cell was invented by General Motors in 1966. It was a key component in town gas that powered UK homes before the discovery of North Sea gas. When produced cleanly, hydrogen is one of the greenest forms of energy we have – which is why we plan to blend up to 20% hydrogen into the natural gas grid and will take a final decision by the end of next year.
Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element in the universe, but needs releasing from water, hydrocarbons, or other organic matter before we can use it. The UK will look to be a leader in developing a domestic source of this super-fuel, in this ever-increasing internationally competitive space. And we fully support hydrogen as a relatively frictionless way to decarbonise our lives in the near-term.
Hydrogen can be produced in many different ways. Sometimes colours are used to describe this process.
‘Blue’ hydrogen splits natural gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, with the carbon captured and stored.
‘Green’ hydrogen uses electrolysis, passing electricity through water to separate out the hydrogen and oxygen.
‘Pink’ hydrogen also uses electrolysis, but with energy from a nuclear power plant.
Sign In
Follow the stocks
