Morning, Tuesday, 22nd April 2025
Online
This conference will focus on next steps for the hydrogen industry in the UK.
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities for supporting the scale-up of hydrogen production and infrastructure across the UK, following a renewed commitment to hydrogen as a central pillar of the UK’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, and the announcement of investment in 11 hydrogen projects in the 2024 Autumn Budget.
Delegates will assess latest thinking in key areas such as innovation and the supply chain, market demand, scale-up, rollout and commercialisation, and what will be needed to secure the long-term viability of the hydrogen market.
Areas for discussion include strategic options and priorities for putting in place enablers to scale-up hydrogen production, enhance infrastructure such as pipelines and refuelling stations, and stimulate demand in sectors such as transport and power generation. Attendees will also review ongoing and planned hydrogen projects, including electrolytic hydrogen initiatives in Scotland and Wales, alongside challenges facing large-scale developments following concerns surrounding some projects and the potential impact on regional decarbonisation goals and national hydrogen targets.
Further sessions will examine policy and regulatory priorities moving forward, including the Contracts for Difference scheme to support investment, government subsidies, and strategies for closing the workforce skills gap, as well as the role of Great British Energy in accelerating development. Delegates will discuss outcomes from the Hydrogen to Power: Market Intervention Consultation, including plans for a Hydrogen-to-Power Business Model and market reform to enable hydrogen’s role in power generation.
Broader implications of the UK’s plans for hydrogen production will also be considered, including its role in decarbonising key industries, meeting net zero ambitions, energy security, export and trade, as well as supporting national and regional economic growth.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- policy: assessing priorities for the Spending Review - channelling funding announced in the Autumn Budget - setting a framework for policy certainty to attract investment
- support mechanisms: tax incentives and policy measures to stimulate industry transition to hydrogen - role of the Contracts for Difference scheme in market stability - hydrogen investment zones
- regulation: providing clarity and consistency in regulatory approaches - addressing barriers to scaling production technologies - advancing standardisation - supporting innovation and UK-based SMEs
- meeting demand: options for targeted policies to support stable demand - integrating hydrogen into transportation and power generation - addressing gaps in consumer incentives for green hydrogen adoption
- production enablers: scaling-up production to meet future demand - accelerating infrastructure development and production capacity - investment in electrolytic capacity and technological innovation
- infrastructure: priorities for development of pipelines, refuelling stations, and storage solutions - integrating hydrogen infrastructure with broader energy strategies
- coordination: working between local and national government to streamline infrastructure delivery - aligning projects with Great British Energy’s national decarbonisation goals
- supply chain: resilience and addressing gaps in transportation and distribution networks - the Clean Hydrogen Innovation Programme and tackling supply chain challenges - ensuring coordination
- economic factors: opportunities for government subsidies to enhance hydrogen’s competitiveness - mitigating challenges from inflation and energy market volatility - fostering sustainable funding models
- workforce development: addressing skills gaps - upskilling and retraining initiatives - apprenticeships and partnerships with educational institutions - career transition pathways for specialised roles
- decarbonisation: advancing hydrogen’s role in reducing emissions across electricity generation, industrial power, and domestic heating - integrating renewable energy sources to support sustainability
- regional initiatives: supporting hydrogen projects across the UK - driving targeted investment and local job opportunities - aligning regional and national energy strategies
- long-term priorities: strategic options for developing a competitive hydrogen market - addressing uncertainties in meeting government targets - fostering innovation to bolster the UK’s leadership internationally
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from DESNZ, DfT; MHCLG; DBT; HMRC; HM Treasury; MOD; GBE; NIC; HSE; DECC, ROI; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
