Green hydrogen generated from renewables has a key role to play in the 海角视频 reaching Net Zero as quickly as possible, offshore wind industry leaders have told the government.
Renewable海角视频 has responded to BEIS consultations on its strategy proposal, with huge plans in the Humber to harness electricity generated offshore to produce the key fuel.
It is seen as vital to switching away from fossil fuels when it comes to heavy industry, heat and freight transport.
Read more: Humber welcomes hydrogen strategy
The trade association has called for ministers to set a target of 5GW of electrolyser capacity to produce green hydrogen by 2030. To support this, it says the 海角视频 should establish an ambitious certification scheme which clearly distinguishes between green hydrogen generated from clean sources and blue hydrogen produced using fossil fuels with carbon capture.
This would ensure that the “significant premium of green hydrogen being emissions-free is not lost, as well as helping project owners and their customers show their commitment to clean energy – a key consideration for many, especially post-COP26”.
The trade association is also setting up a new working group to help to ramp up the roll-out of green hydrogen as a clean fuel for sectors which have proved difficult to decarbonise.
Renewable海角视频’s director of future electricity systems, Barnaby Wharton, said: “We’re calling for a clear road map from ministers which ensures we seize the opportunities offered by green hydrogen to help get us to net zero faster.
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"To achieve this, we need a low carbon hydrogen certification scheme in place to provide clarity for developers and choice for consumers. This will help to kickstart a major new industry in the 海角视频, putting us in pole position to ramp up to 5GW of green hydrogen production by 2030.
“We all know how volatile international gas prices can be, so basing the reference price of hydrogen on the cost of natural gas is inappropriate as a business model; that must change.
“Separate pots of funding are vital to ensure that green hydrogen is given every opportunity to flourish, so that it can decarbonise hard-to-reach sectors as well as creating jobs and economic growth across the country. We need to focus on the overriding imperative of decarbonising our entire energy system.”
Some of the vast amounts of electricity produced by wind and solar can be used to generate green hydrogen which can be stored and used whenever it’s needed, providing flexibility and security to our modern clean energy system.
Plans for Rough and Aldbrough to hold hydrogen are being advanced, with the Humber also home to gas-based proposals for hydrogen, with Equinor and Uniper aiming to produce across both banks.
As well as a major electrolyser plant beside Orsted’s onshore substation for Hornsea Two offshore wind farm, a pilot plant is also being developed in Grimsby to explore marinised production - building the electrolyser into the turbine tower.
The Green Hydrogen Working Group met for the first time last week, with the aim to accelerate progress on deployment. It includes industry experts from companies such as the world-class electrolyser manufacturer ITM Power in Sheffield.
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It is partnering with Orsted, Phillips 66 and Element Energy on the major Humber Bank plan - already a recipient of early government support, with ITM also involved in offshore work.
ITM Power chief executive Dr Graham Cooley said: “By addressing green hydrogen in a coherent manner, the government can advance decarbonisation across the energy system and create new jobs in the renewables and manufacturing sectors.
"This requires considering the production-and-use of green hydrogen and implementing policies to incentivise its adoption. ITM Power therefore welcomes this Renewable海角视频 initiative to encourage the 海角视频 government and policymakers to place a clear focus on green hydrogen.”
It comes as a partnership involving Orsted, together with Neptune Energy and Goal7 has been awarded £239,000 from the Oil and Gas Authority to fund a four-month feasibility study into the potential use of renewable energy to directly provide power to a gas-producing offshore platform.
The study will also investigate the commercial and consenting solutions for establishing a connection between a farm and an offshore oil and gas installation.
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