MPs lead call for greater hydrogen role in climate targets
11 Jul 2018
A cross party inquiry by MPs has concluded that the creation of a market for hydrogen will help enable the UK to meet its 2050 climate change targets.
The recent Producing Low Carbon Gas report by the MPs and Carbon Connect calls for further government action to take advantage of the opportunities offered by low carbon gas to cut carbon emissions and boost the economy.
The UK needs to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. Recently, the Committee on Climate Change stated that hydrogen could be useful in providing low carbon heat for homes and industry and fuel for large vehicles.
The parliamentary report sets out options, including blending a proportion of hydrogen in the gas grid, supplying it to large industrial gas users, increasing the number of hydrogen transport fleets, and using it to provide clean electricity.
Co-chair, Tory James Heappey, said: “Low carbon gas offers an opportunity to drive clean growth across the UK. There are clear opportunities for the UK to start to build up a market for low carbon gas and become an international leader in this area. This report offers a timely and substantial contribution to the discussion on the UK’s future energy policy.”
His Labour and Liberal Democrat co-chairs Alan Whitehead and Alastair Carmichael called on government to show its support to ensure targets were met.
Meanwhile Ian McCluskey, head of technical services at the Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers (IGEM), commented that it was clear that “gas and the gas networks have a significant role in to play in the decarbonisation challenge and transition to a low carbon economy”.
"Our ambition was to examine the challenges for the production and storage of low carbon gases. Specifically in order to provide a detailed assessment of the particular issues related to them.
"We believe it is likely that decarbonisation will be achieved by a portfolio of techniques. Policy development to support the decarbonisation of the economy as a whole, or specific sectors like heat and transport, will clearly need to take account of a broader range of technologies.”
