Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘We can play a major role in hydrogen push’
Could north Kent be set to cash in on a push to create low-carbon hydrogen gas?
That’s certainly the aim of the government-funded Thames Estuary Growth Board which has commissioned a major study exploring the potential of hydrogen for the region it covers.
And it says the likes of the multi-billion pound London Resort entertainment scheme, the Lower Thames Crossing and the Thames Freeport are all exploring the use of hydrogen in their delivery.
The UK Hydrogen Strategy was launched by the government last week, citing an ambition to create 5GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2030, delivering 9,000 jobs and a £900m industry.
It could then rise to 100,000 jobs and be worth £13bn by 2050.
It hopes it will replace natural gas in powering around 3 million UK homes each year as well as fuelling transport and businesses, particularly heavy industry.
It is seen as a major cog in the push for zero net emissions and a move away from
fossil fuels as the challenge of climate change becomes a reality.
Thames Estuary envoy Kate Willard said: “The Thames Estuary can play a major role in the government’s ambitions for hydrogen.
“Next month, we will publish our own blueprint for a hydrogen ecosystem and economy in the Thames Estuary. Our work has captured the scale of potential demand across a range of uses in logistics, public sector fleets, public transport and back up generation and identified very strong interest from a broad range of partners who see the estuary as a landmark opportunity for involvement and investment.
“Our blueprint clearly maps the value and delivery potential of a hydrogen economy within the estuary with unlocking so many ancillary benefits around growth, jobs, skills and clean air.
“It is a very exciting plan, and we know the government will want to back it.”
The government has suggested up to 35% of the UK’s energy consumption by 2050 could be hydrogen-based.