The UK can deploy 10GW of blue hydrogen by 2030 and reach up to 80GW by 2050 with the right policy support, according to a briefing paper from the country’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (HFCA).

The report says blue hydrogen will be an essential part of the UK’s goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Blue hydrogen will be the fastest way to deploy large volumes of low carbon” HFCA

The UK is well placed to take advantage of the technology given its historic production of natural gas and its good potential for offshore CO₂ storage. The government wants to have four carbon capture and storage (CCS) clusters operational by the end of the decade. In the first phase, two industrial clusters will be established by the mid-2020s, and in the second phase, a further two by 2030. Together, these phases would capture 10mn t of CO₂/yr.

Blue hydrogen can be produced by, and service multiple sectors within, these industrial clusters, the report says.

The Acorn, HyNet, Zero Carbon Humber and Teesside clusters are the ones best positioned to accelerate blue hydrogen production and use.

Blue hydrogen advantage

The HFCA supports the government’s strategy of a twin-track—or technology agnostic—approach, recognising that both blue and green hydrogen will play a key role in achieving the country’s ambitious decarbonisation goals.

It also notes the UK has an advantage in the race for blue hydrogen because it has a regulatory regime for CCS established under the Energy Act and CO₂ regulations.

But the government must take a number of further policy steps to encourage the growth of blue hydrogen, according to the report. These including setting emissions standards for blue and green hydrogen, establishing targets for blue hydrogen production, and encouraging imports and exports of all types of hydrogen.

“Blue hydrogen will be the fastest way to deploy large volumes of low-carbon hydrogen and will pave the way for the ramp up of green hydrogen production in the longer term— including opening up new distribution systems that can be utilised for all types of hydrogen across the range of applications,” the report says.

The UK’s hydrogen strategy—which has been delayed a number of times—is expected to be published later this month. It will contain measures to stimulate both green and blue hydrogen production.

 

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Author: Tom Young