MPS warned that blue hydrogen energy plan may not be clean
The UK Government's approach to developing hydrogen as a clean energy source risks locking in fossil fuel use and continued carbon emissions, a report warned.
The study from climate think tank E3G criticises the Government's proposed approach to scale up both "blue" hydrogen, derived from fossil fuels and "green" hydrogen made with renewables.
And it warns against using hydrogen as a replacement for natural gas in heating, blending it into gas supplies or mandating hydrogen-ready boilers nationwide, as this would lock the UK into continued use of fossil fuels.
Hydrogen is potentially zero carbon, producing just heat and water when burned or used in fuel cells and providing an alternative to polluting fuels in transport, industry and heating.
But how it is produced either from fossil fuel gas with technology to capture the carbon emissions created and store them permanently underground or from a process using renewable electricity - affects how clean it is.
Blue hydrogen is not zero emissions because of methane emissions from leaks in gas production and limitations in the technology for carbon capture and storage (CCS), E3G warned.
A forthcoming strategy from thegovernmentisexpectedto set out how it will get on track to meet a target to create five gigawatts (GW) of hydrogen capacity as part of the Prime Minister's 10 point green plan.
The think tank is calling on the Government to focus "with laser precision" on developing green hydrogen.
It is likely to be a scarce resource for decades, so it should be developed and deployed strategically in sectors which do not have alternatives to cut carbon emissions, such as industrial processes, aviation and shipping and long term storage options for electricity.
The report's lead author, Juliet Phillips, said: "A focus on clean, green hydrogen within targeted sectors and hubs can support multiple Government goals- including demonstrating climate leadership."
But Ms Phillips warned hydrogen to heat homes could risk locking the UK into a fossil fuel based energy system and could also hugely increase energy bills.