The conference, held in the days following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, brought together hundreds of delegates from across the hydrogen value chain, with a clear message emerging: political change must not derail investment confidence or delay the delivery of hydrogen projects already moving towards deployment.
“The UK has built enormous momentum in hydrogen over recent years” said Emma Guthrie, Chief Executive of the Hydrogen Energy Association. “Businesses have invested, supply chains have grown and projects are ready to move. The incoming Prime Minister now has an opportunity to build on that progress. The message from our conference was clear. Hydrogen is no longer an emerging technology looking for a purpose. It is a strategic industry capable of delivering economic growth, attracting investment, strengthening energy security and supporting thousands of skilled jobs across every region of the UK.”
Energy Minister Michael Shanks spoke to delegates in the conference keynote, addressing both the challenges and risks associated with the current geopolitical climate and historical reliance on fossil fuels as well as political upheaval in the UK in recent weeks.
“The collaboration between Government and industry is critical to delivering the energy transition” said Mr Shanks. “By working together, championing the success already being delivered and giving investors’ confidence, hydrogen can play a central role in strengthening the UK’s energy security and driving economic growth. Political change does drive uncertainty, particularly for investors. But the Government remains committed to what we were elected to deliver, and that commitment to hydrogen will continue.”
Throughout the conference, leaders from manufacturing, transport, defence, aviation, heavy industry, power and finance demonstrated how hydrogen is becoming central to future investment, industrial competitiveness and UK energy security.
With several Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1) projects now having reached Final Investment Decision and demand continuing to grow across multiple sectors, delegates agreed the industry has moved beyond pilot projects and into commercial delivery. The consensus was that maintaining policy certainty is now essential to unlocking the next wave of private investment.
The conference focused heavily on hydrogen demand, bringing together organisations already starting or planning to use hydrogen across a wide range of industries, demonstrating that hydrogen is increasingly becoming part of mainstream industrial and infrastructure planning rather than a future ambition.
Alongside these end users, leading hydrogen producers and technology developers showcased the range of commercial pathways now being deployed across the UK, demonstrating how the domestic supply chain is increasingly positioned to deliver at scale.
The conference also highlighted significant progress across the UK hydrogen sector, with several Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1) projects having now reached Final Investment Decision, alongside growing collaboration between industry, Government and investors to accelerate deployment. Throughout the conference, speakers pointed to increasing collaboration between developers, manufacturers, investors and end users as evidence of a sector that is maturing and ready to move into its next phase of growth.
With a new Prime Minister expected to set out priorities for the Government in the coming weeks, the Hydrogen Energy Association is urging ministers to provide early certainty on hydrogen policy, ensuring the UK remains competitive for investment and protects the momentum built across the sector.
“The sector isn't asking for a change in direction” added Dr Guthrie. “It is asking for continuity, confidence and the timely decisions needed to unlock private investment. “We're moving beyond discussing hydrogen's potential and into delivering hydrogen projects. Today's discussions showed a sector ready to get on with the job. What matters now is ensuring that political change doesn't interrupt the progress that has already been made.”
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