Energy Minister to highlight the huge opportunity for the green hydrogen industry at a Midlands conference
A government minister will highlight the huge opportunity for the green hydrogen industry at a leading Midlands conference.
Greg Hands MP, the Minister of State for the Department for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, is giving the opening address in a recorded message at the 18th UK Hydrogen & Fuel Cells conference which has been organised by Coventry-based Climate Change Solutions in partnership with the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association.
The highly-respected event will take place at the NEC in Birmingham on Tuesday, June 28 from 8.30am to 6pm.
Energy Minister Greg Hands said: “Hydrogen is the clean superfuel of the future and the UK is positioned to lead the world in this cutting-edge energy technology.
“We are developing hydrogen as a source of affordable homegrown power and a growing industry set to create thousands of jobs.”
He will be followed by keynote speaker Dr Graham Cooley, CEO of ITM Power, which is a Sheffield-based world-leading clean technology company that designs, develops, and manufactures electrolysers.
“Our electrolysers use renewable electricity to split water into green hydrogen and oxygen,” he said. “Through subsidiaries and via our industrial partnerships, we supply the technology to a number of key sectors where we help stakeholders to reach their climate targets.
“In order to meet the predicted global demand for hydrogen we need to deploy over 3,500GW of electrolysis to reach net zero by 2050. To put that into perspective, that’s equivalent to thirty-five centuries of electrolyser production at our Gigafactory. Therefore, cross-industry collaboration will be vital to achieve these targets and decarbonise some of the world’s most carbon intensive industries – including refining, ammonia, chemicals, steel, haulage and maritime transport.
“Collaboration and key partnerships are fundamental to scaling up the industry en masse and getting green hydrogen to the applications that need it.
“The UK and Europe are currently the epicentre of the hydrogen industry and lay claim to the lion’s share of projects, planned and operational, as well as a significant number of electrolyser manufacturers.
“However, we are seeing a surge in planned projects around the world, especially in the Middle East and Australia. With dozens of national hydrogen strategies, many of which have been released over the last 18 months, hydrogen is taking its rightful place in the energy mix.
“What’s needed now is smart energy policy and smart industrial strategy to drive the industry forward, encourage investment, create large numbers of green jobs and accelerate decarbonisation. The emerging global market for electrolysers is a huge opportunity for the British manufacturing sector.”
The event, which is being sponsored by BP, Burges Salmon and Luxfer Gas Cylinders, will also feature over 30 guest speakers and workshops.
Jacqui Staunton, of Climate Change Solutions, added: “We have extended the exhibition space and the number of delegate places since it was so successful last year.
“It is the first time we have had a government minister speak at the UK Hydrogen & Fuels Cells Conference which emphasises the increasing importance of hydrogen and the range of applications for fuel cells as well as the growing significance of tackling climate change.”
To register for the 18th UK Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Conference, visit https://www.climate-change-solutions.co.uk/event/hydrogen-and-fuel-cells-here-and-now/
