Hydrogen in the Humber: Big names gather to explore potential use

Anna Turley MP, chair of the All Parliamentary Group on Hydrogen, has called on the Humber to put itself at the forefront of the 海角视频鈥檚 emerging industry.

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Phil WinterHull Live Business Editor

13:49, 25 JUL 2019

Hydrogen technology is seen as having huge potential for the Humber

Big names in Humber business met earlier this month in a bid to kick-start hydrogen technology and cut carbon emissions across the estuary.

The conference, hosted at the ergo centre in Hessle, saw the likes of BP, ABP and British Steel come together to further investigate the benefits hydrogen technology could bring to the Humber.

It came after Anna Turley MP, chair of the All Parliamentary Group on Hydrogen, called on the Humber to put itself at the forefront of the 海角视频鈥檚 emerging industry.

Ms Turley said: 鈥淎ddressing how we heat people鈥檚 homes in the future is key to meeting our net zero climate target. I believe in the potential of聽hydrogen聽as a green fuel to meet that goal and am pleased to be helping to promote the technology in Parliament.

鈥淲e are seeing great examples of innovation happening across our country, but especially in Northern England, where the potential of聽hydrogen聽as a clean energy source is clear to see.

鈥淭hese projects are advancing understanding, proving the case to national government, and showing that private and public sectors can work together to deliver.

Anna Turley MP, chair of the All Parliamentary Group on Hydrogen (Image: Evening Gazette)

鈥淭ime is of the essence and this important work must continue at pace if we are to realise our ambitions of a聽hydrogen聽powered future.鈥�

The event at ergo was led by the University of Hull and its Aura initiative.

Leading businesses came together for a series of workshops that looked to narrow down the key opportunities for the region around聽hydrogen.

The hope is that by using聽hydrogen, key industries across both banks of the Humber can switch to a clean energy source and slash their carbon emissions.

Other names which joined the event included 脴rsted, Groupe Atlantic, Equinor, the Humber LEP and Catch.

Dr Gesa Reiss, innovation manager at Aura, said: 鈥淭his event is a major step forward in creating a new聽hydrogen-based economy for the region.

Inside ergo at Bridgehead Business Park (Image: Peter Harbour)

鈥淭he fact we have been able to get so many major industries involved demonstrates the scale of the potential for business.

鈥淭his event will look at the barriers and challenges we face in delivering on our聽hydrogen聽ambitions and will then develop a series of projects that can overcome these issues and ensure we seize on this opportunity.

鈥淭his region is well placed to create a new聽hydrogen聽economy that will lead to a massive decarbonisation of our industries. When you consider the challenges the steelworks in Scunthorpe face around their carbon emissions, this Programme could transform its future.鈥�

Aura is already working with a range of businesses and organisations to drive ahead renewable technology in the region 鈥� with the 拢12m Aura Innovation Centre already under construction 鈥� and said the new programme hopes to attract funding to develop a range of聽hydrogen-based projects.