Humber's biggest businesses unite behind a new hydrogen economy

The University of Hull is today (July 17) pulling some of the region’s biggest companies together in a bid to kick start a new hydrogen economy for the Humber and dramatically cut the carbon produced by our biggest industries.

It comes as the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hydrogen, Anna Turley MP, calls on the region to act fast and help the UK “realise our ambitions of a hydrogen powered future.”

The University’s Aura initiative, which is a collaboration between industry and academia to drive the zero carbon agenda, is leading the new Humber Hydrogen Economy Programme which aims to develop a range of key collaborative projects that can create investment and jobs around this emerging low carbon energy source. The Programme will contribute to strengthening the Humber in environmental, wellbeing and economic terms.

The event, at the Ergo Centre in Bridgehead Business Park, is attracting key players from across the region, including for example British Steel, Centrica SL, VPI Immingham, PX International, Groupe Atlantic, BP Chemicals, Ørsted, Energiekontor, as well as ENGIE, Northern Gas Networks, Equinor, ABP Humber, the Humber LEP, Catch, regional SMEs and local authorities.

Participants are coming together for a series of workshops that will narrow down the key opportunities for the region around hydrogen. The hope is that by using hydrogen, our key industries can switch to a clean energy source and slash their carbon emissions.

Anna Turley MP says about the important gathering: “Addressing how we heat people’s homes in the future is key to meeting our net zero climate target. I believe in the potential of hydrogen as a green fuel to meet that goal and am pleased to be helping to promote the technology in Parliament.

“We are seeing great examples of innovation happening across our country, but especially in Northern England, where the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy source is clear to see. These projects are advancing understanding, proving the case to national government, and showing that private and public sectors can work together to deliver.

“Time is of the essence and this important work must continue at pace if we are to realise our ambitions of a hydrogen powered future.”

Aura is already working with a range of businesses and organisations to drive ahead renewable technology in the region – with the £12m Aura Innovation Centre already under construction – and says this new programme will aim to attract funding to develop a range of hydrogen-based projects.

Innovation manager at Aura, Dr Gesa Reiss, says: “This event is a major step forward in creating a new hydrogen-based economy for the region. The fact we have been able to get so many major industries involved demonstrates the scale of the potential for business.

“This event will look at the barriers and challenges we face in delivering on our hydrogen ambitions and will then develop a series of projects that can overcome these issues and ensure we seize on this opportunity.

“This region is well placed to create a new hydrogen economy that will lead to a massive decarbonisation of our industries. When you consider the challenges the steelworks in Scunthorpe face around their carbon emissions, this Programme could transform its future.

“Aura and the University of Hull are leaders in the next generation of low carbon technologies and, working with these key partners, we will use the Humber Hydrogen Economy Programme to attract investment and deliver on the projects that will create a new era of low-carbon growth for the region.”