The Hydrogen Energy Association (HEA) is aiming to draw on its expertise as a national authority to drive the establishment and success of GB Energy.
The trade association has submitted a roadmap that highlights hydrogen’s role in decarbonisation, economic growth, and energy resilience as part of the Government’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission.
It focuses on hydrogen’s pivotal role in realising the UK’s ambitious goals for clean energy, economic growth, and energy security as well as underscoring how GB Energy can spearhead hydrogen’s development through targeted investment, risk management, and collaboration with industry leaders.
The HEA has outlined recommendations in alignment with the five key functions announced for Great British Energy including investing in and owning renewable energy projects and building investor confidence, developing clean energy projects in partnership with the Crown Estate, investing in inland hydrogen hubs and ports to facilitate hydrogen trade and incentivising local power through the Local Power Plan.
It also includes building clean energy supply chains in the UK and supporting initiatives like the Green Industries Growth Accelerator (GIGA) to strengthen sustainable clean energy supply chains and working with Great British Nuclear on new nuclear projects.
One area the HEA has identified where GB Energy could play a particularly important role is to act as a risk-taking intermediary – pooling the production of hydrogen and the demand for hydrogen to reduce risk and help the system operate as efficiently as possible.
Celia Greaves, HEA’s CEO, said: “With hydrogen poised to revolutionise energy systems worldwide, the UK has a unique opportunity to lead. By integrating hydrogen into the pillars of GB Energy, we can deliver a cleaner, more resilient energy future while unlocking huge economic potential.”
