Hydrogen is to gradually become a commodity that caters to the energy needs of households, industry and transport. The UK will also have to work out how, instead of blue, to produce green hydrogen.
By 2030, hydrogen is set to supply energy in the UK with around three million homes and is gradually set to gain prominence in industry and transport as well. Up to a fifth of natural gas consumption is to be replaced. It follows a hydrogen strategy unveiled by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet.
Hydrogen, to the liking of the British government, is a strategic commodity designed to help Britain significantly decarbonise its economy. The UK currently produces about 27 terawatt-hours of energy from hydrogen. To achieve carbon neutrality, it would need to increase that production tenfold.
But the UK will have to solve one more problem. Most of the currently sourced hydrogen is so-called blue hydrogen, which is produced with the help of fossil sources. It means its “colour” will have to change to green, when hydrogen is produced with the help of renewable sources. Johnson’s cabinet intends to set aside around £900m for hydrogen projects for now.
