The Hydrogen Energy Association, which represents 120 members with combined revenues over £400 billion and 200,000 employees globally, is engaging with ministers across all parties, to push forward plans for hydrogen deployment in the UK.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has remained tight lipped on whether the General Election will take place in May but has previously said his “working assumption” is that he will go to the country in the second half of this year.
However, CEO Celia Greaves said ministers needed to engage with the hydrogen industry now to ensure that clean growth and energy security are firmly embedded in the agenda to win votes.
“For a long time we have seen clean growth and energy security being used as a party-political football” said Ms Greaves. “But this is not a game. This is an opportunity for the next Government to hit the back of the net with a policy that delivers. Energy policy is a focus of both major parties, and we are working with key politicians to help them finetune objectives here. Clean energy is one of the most important deliverables for a new or incumbent Government because it affects everybody, so political parties need to ensure their election promises are water tight. The HEA is calling for consistency of policy to unlock investment in the hydrogen sector to deliver longer-term ambitions that parties have committed to. Debates ahead of the election should encourage private sector investment in hydrogen ‘through reconfirmation of the vision for hydrogen in the energy mix, and ongoing policy development to ensure that our targets can be reached. The appetite for hydrogen is there but we need changes and accelerated action across our planning, regulatory and investment systems to build the infrastructure to deliver on ambition. It’s all about building on the momentum we have had to date. Currently, the system is not ready to deliver change at the scale and pace necessary.”
In the last few weeks, the HEA has met with Ed Miliband, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Chi Onwurah, Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, Bill Esterson, Shadow Minister for Transport (Roads) and Sarah Jones, Minister for Industry and Decarbonisation from the Labour party.
Further meetings have been held with the Lord Callanan, Minister of Energy Efficiency and Green finance, the Climate team at Conservative Environment Network, Lord Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley Combined Authority.
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