As the week draws to a close, a new chapter for the UK has begun. With Liz Truss having won the Conservative leadership election, ahead of Rishi Sunak, she has now taken residence in 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister. With a fresh cabinet around her, Truss is faced with the monumental challenge of surging energy prices, which appear set to define her premiership.
Despite hydrogen’s potential to secure energy supply being recognised by many, the industry’s nascency means it is unlikely to play a short-term role in the UK’s attempt to combat surging costs and security fears. However, Truss’ first winter in office could be a key indicator as to what the future holds for the industry.
Under the current UK hydrogen strategy, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) predicts that by 2050, hydrogen could deliver up to a third of the country’s final energy consumption[1]. Additionally, with many funding and projects already being well in motion in the UK, it would see unlikely that this work would be undone in the short-term. Truss faces a short stint in office, with a General Election set for January 2025, and the opposition party, Labour, not opposing plans for hydrogen in the UK, it could be assumed current developments are safe.
... to continue reading you must be subscribed
