On Hydrogen: New Report Provides Roadmap to a Low Carbon Future
Credit: iStock/CeriBreeze
Despite its immense promise, hydrogen's role in the UK's net-zero transition remains fraught with challenges. Now a major new publication by Policy@Manchester, The University of Manchester’s policy engagement unit, is offering a helpful roadmap to help unlock hydrogen’s transformative power.
Hydrogen was once heralded as the panacea for decarbonising everything from transport to heavy industry, but its promise has been tempered by economic and practical realities. Now, a new report produced by a range of experts from The University of Manchester has given policymakers a practical guide to developing the technologies and infrastructure needed to make hydrogen a key part of the UK’s energy future.
On Hydrogen, produced by University of Manchester experts from a range of disciplines, pulls together seven expert think pieces that highlight the prominent role that this "magic molecule" could play in helping to achieve the UK’s net-zero ambitions.
However, the Manchester experts conclude that unlocking the environmental, economic, and energy benefits of hydrogen will require action and leadership from both government and industry.
Baroness Brown of Cambridge chairs the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee. She is also Chair of the Carbon Trust and the Adaptation Committee of the Climate Change Committee. In her foreword to the report, Baroness Brown reflects on hydrogen’s rocky trajectory.
“The hydrogen bubble has burst,” she writes. “In the last 10 years, hydrogen has been hyped as the silver bullet that can decarbonise almost everything. The trouble with bubbles is that once they have burst, it takes time for industry, governments, and investors to regain confidence and take the subjects seriously again.”
The ambiguity surrounding hydrogen’s future creates uncertainty for both businesses and consumers. Potential producers and users are locked in a stalemate, with neither party willing to commit until the other does. That inertia is highlighted as a major barrier to adoption across several articles in the collection.
The report highlights such inertia could potentially result in the UK missing out on the environmental benefits that energy produced from hydrogen offers. Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen produces no carbon emissions at the point of use while its high energy density makes it an attractive option for carbon-intensive sectors such as heavy industry and transport. If paired with a robust infrastructure, the report demonstrates that hydrogen has the potential to stabilise renewable-dominated energy grids and reduce reliance on imported energy. That in turn, would enhance energy security - a growing concern as geopolitical tensions disrupt global energy markets.
However, while acknowledging the practical challenges that have held back the progress of hydrogen adoption, Baroness Brown still sees promise in a strategic approach that places hydrogen at the heart of the UK’s future energy policy.
“Developing the UK’s hydrogen industry needs to form a key strand of the UK’s forthcoming Industrial Strategy,” she told PoliticsHome. “The report On Hydrogen addresses many of the critical issues policymakers must address to make green hydrogen happen in the UK.”
It is a view that is shared by Jeevun Sandher MP who Chairs the Hydrogen APPG and sits on the Treasury Select Committee. He welcomed the new report, telling PoliticsHome that its publication will support policymakers and legislators as they map out a future industrial strategy.
"The On Hydrogen report from The University of Manchester provides timely and invaluable insights as we work to realise the full potential of hydrogen in the UK's journey to net zero,” Sandher told us. “Finding new routes to decarbonise sectors such as heavy industry and transportation is absolutely critical if we are to achieve a low carbon future.”
Hydrogen offers a pathway to tackle sectors like heavy industry, aviation, and shipping that will be difficult to decarbonise through other means. In one of the pieces in the collection, Professor Alice Larkin and Dr Amanda Lea-Langton argue that hydrogen should be reserved for sectors such as these where few alternatives exist and where demand across society is more equitably used by the population. Dr Lea-Langton also argues for a specific focus on green hydrogen, calling for significant investment in renewable energy to support its production.
Whilst acknowledging the significant and complex challenges that the industry faces, Baroness Brown is confident that all of the factors are in place for the UK to take a leading role in the development of a technology that will ultimately have global significance.
“Green hydrogen is an important growth opportunity for the UK,” she told us. “We have many of the ingredients to make it work, - ambitious net zero commitments, rapidly growing renewable energy capacity, geological storage, academic expertise in institutions, and relevant industry players in equipment, production, and end use.”
And that foundation of expertise can benefit more than just energy security and the environment. Jeevun Sandher MP told PoliticsHome that if the nation develops hydrogen technology, then that could ultimately provide a significant economic boost too.
“Developing a robust hydrogen economy isn’t just about cutting emissions - it’s also a major opportunity to create high-quality jobs across the country, from research and innovation to engineering and manufacturing,” he told us. “By investing in this sector, we can drive green growth while build ing a more sustainable energy future for the nation."
However, to realise those benefits, there are obstacles to overcome. The new Policy@Manchester report makes an important contribution to addressing those challenges, providing practical, science-based recommendations that can support policy action.
At the heart of the report is a repeated call for policymakers to act boldly to unlock hydrogen’s transformative potential and position the UK as a global leader in this field. Hydrogen’s promise is clear, putting a cleaner, more sustainable energy future within reach. The challenge now is for government to seize that opportunity and help create a cleaner more prosperous future that will benefit us all.
On Hydrogen is available to read on the Policy@Manchester website - https://www.policy.manchester.ac.uk/publications/on-hydrogen/
PoliticsHome Newsletters
Get the inside track on what MPs and Peers are talking about. Sign up to The House's morning email for the latest insight and reaction from Parliamentarians, policy-makers and organisations.
