Cautious welcome for UK Hydrogen Strategy

摘要

THE Mineral Products Association (MPA) has cautiously welcomed the Government's proposals to accelerate the development of a low-carbon hydrogen economy, but has warned that the costs of the production, transmission and distribution need to be shared by the whole UK economy. Published on 17 August, the UK Hydrogen Strategy sets out how progress will be made over the next decade to deliver 5GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 for use across the economy, as part of the UK's drive to achieving its net-zero targets. Dr Richard Leese, director of industrial policy, energy and climate change at the MPA, said: 'The publication of the Government's strategy is a welcome first step in the UK's journey to developing hydrogen as an alternative energy option, which will play a critical role in our collective journey to a net-zero society. 'However, it's now critical that energy-intensive industries, including the UK cement and lime sector, which are essential for our economy and way of life, are not unduly penalized by additional policy costs for the production, transmission and distribution of hydrogen on top of already high electricity costs and carbon-related environmental taxes. Hydrogen development costs need to be shared by the wider economy to encourage acceleration of the technology and ensure industrial gas users and hydrogen-generated power users are not placed at any further international competitive disadvantage.