Understanding and harnessing hydrogen’s potential is an important consideration in our region’s low carbon future. This isn’t about treating hydrogen as a ‘silver bullet’ solution, but more about understanding the opportunities a regional ecosystem could present for our future energy mix.
Net Zero North East England partnership brought together representatives from industry, academia, and the public sector to discuss the trajectory of hydrogen’s role in our region’s future, specifically discussing what would be needed to support SMEs to participate in the supply chain for a regional hydrogen ecosystem, which could result in substantial growth in our green economy.
Key themes emerged, emphasising the potential to develop a hydrogen ecosystem the importance of keeping all options on the table.The consensus highlighted the need for a collective approach to tackle challenges and deliver impactful shifts towards 2050, following the identification of what is most likely our biggest area of opportunity – transport. Our transport system is set to change with increased transport powers coming to the region through devolution. We also have one of the largest geographical territories for transport, with a mix of urban and rural locations – some well served, and others not. Hydrogen transport options, such as buses, might offer increased range to serve some of our must rural residents.
Add to this our ports, and the opportunities presented by using green hydrogen for production of clean shipping fuels, and we start to see the scale of impact which could be achieved. The conversation revolved around skills, infrastructure, and opportunities, underscoring the need for collaboration to build a robust hydrogen economy. The emphasis wasn’t solely on hydrogen’s potential as an energy source but also as a driver of innovation and a route to more jobs.
By building a green hydrogen ecosystem we could maximise the investment made in our region’s offshore wind installations, adding value by using that green hydrogen to produce other low-carbon solutions to some of our biggest challenges. All that activity needs to be supported by infrastructure, transport and logistics, innovations and more, and that offers us a substantial opportunity to expand the green jobs on offer in our region.
The session also touched upon public perceptions, the need for honest and open education, and societal readiness to adopt hydrogen technologies. Participants stressed the importance of public engagement, the need for competent hydrogen training programs, and the readiness of existing infrastructure for hydrogen integration.
The speakers also shared their thoughts on the challenges faced by smaller businesses, exploring the role of SMEs in leveraging hydrogen-related projects and emphasising the need for tangible, investable projects that align with long-term strategies.
The roundtable was invaluable in highlighting the need for a comprehensive, research-backed strategic plan that integrates education, infrastructure development, public engagement, and collaboration among various stakeholders and investors.
The direction identified was one of collective action, investment in tangible projects, and a systematic, collaborative approach to harnessing the potential of hydrogen in the region’s future energy landscape.
The conversation doesn’t end there. Net Zero North East England is home to the Net Zero Innovation Catalyst, a group of academics and private sector organisations working to find solutions to our biggest challenges in the transition. The Hydrogen Working Group will update the regional position paper following the insights gained in this roundtable discussion, identifying the course of action most likely to deliver positive impacts in our region. Whether this focuses on producing green hydrogen to improve our transport system, or for other uses, such as decarbonising industry, is yet to be seen, but we know it has a role to play as we work together to achieve net zero.
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