Comment from Powerhouse Energy Group on the Government’s published Hydrogen Strategy
17th Aug 2021
Powerhouse Energy welcome the Government’s Hydrogen Strategy, recognising hydrogen as a key pillar in reaching net zero.
“We welcome the Government’s Hydrogen Strategy, published today, recognising hydrogen as a key pillar in reaching net zero. We particularly welcome the twin track approach from Government with support of low carbon hydrogen production, which is important if we are to significantly ramp up production quickly. British, low carbon technology such as Powerhouse’s can help increase hydrogen production and importantly is available today. Powerhouse technology can help the transport sector reduce carbon emissions saving up to 125% of CO2 when compared to carbon emissions from diesel, helping accelerate the clean energy transition and improve the air we breathe.
It is important the UK Government anticipates the demand and supports investment in local production and consumption infrastructure. The strategy acknowledges the lack of existing hydrogen infrastructure in terms of refuelling stations and this must be addressed if we are to see an effective uptake in hydrogen as a transport fuel. We welcome the need for policy to be put in place which will support existing infrastructure. Our partner, Peel NRE, part of Peel L&P, is kickstarting this infrastructure having recently announced plans to develop a hydrogen refuelling station at Protos, where Powerhouse technology will be first used commercially, turning plastic into clean energy. There are also ambitions for a refuelling station at a planned plastic to hydrogen facility in North Clyde, near Glasgow.
We are pleased Government has recognised new export opportunities for British hydrogen technologies and we urge ministers to maximise this, championing home grown technologies such as Powerhouse Energy’s that can help accelerate fuel switching and improve our environment for future generations across the world.
We believe the Government should adopt a cross departmental approach including BEIS, Defra and DFT. Indeed the creation of an Office for Hydrogen would help ensure a world-leading hydrogen economy here in the UK.
We look forward to collaborating with Government to develop a UK standard for low carbon hydrogen and input into a review to support the development of the necessary network and storage infrastructure of the hydrogen sector.”