The strategy document lays out its efforts to attract investment in 5 gigawatts of hydrogen production by 2030. It proposes a series of industry consultations to help establish a subsidy system to support large hydrogen projects to decarbonise areas that cannot run on electricity. The hydrogen projects under development include “green hydrogen” schemes, which extract hydrogen from water, leaving only oxygen as a byproduct, and “blue hydrogen”, which extracts hydrogen from fossil fuel gas before trapping the greenhouse gas emissions that are left behind. However, critics of blue hydrogen fear a long-term commitment could extend the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels. Dan McGrail, the chief executive of RenewableUK, said the national strategy “doesn’t focus nearly enough on developing the UK’s world-leading green hydrogen industry” and should “set out a clear ambition for green hydrogen”.

Source: The Guardian August 16, 2021 22:52 UTC