The UK risks losing out to Europe in the race to become a leader in the hydrogen energy sector, according to a new report by the Energy Networks Association (ENA).

The report, published on October 6, 2023, found that the UK needs to catch up to its European rivals regarding hydrogen production and infrastructure investment. The UK has set a target of producing 10 gigawatts of hydrogen by 2030, but the ENA report warns that this target will only be achieved if the government takes urgent action to support the sector.

The UK is currently ranked eighth in Europe regarding hydrogen development, behind countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The ENA report says the UK needs to invest an additional 拢10 billion in hydrogen infrastructure by 2030 to meet its targets.

The UK government has said it is committed to supporting the hydrogen sector. Still, the ENA report says that more needs to be done to attract investment and accelerate the development of hydrogen projects.

The ENA report makes a number of recommendations for the government, including:

• Providing more clarity on the government’s hydrogen strategy and targets.
• Offering financial incentives to support the development of hydrogen projects.
• Investing in hydrogen infrastructure, such as pipelines and storage facilities.
• Streamlining the planning process for hydrogen projects.

The ENA report warns that if the UK fails to take action to support the hydrogen sector, it will fall behind its European rivals and miss out on the economic and environmental benefits of hydrogen.

The UK risks losing out to Europe in the race to become a leader in the hydrogen energy sector unless the government takes urgent action to support the sector. The ENA report makes a number of recommendations for the government, including providing more clarity on its hydrogen strategy and targets, offering financial incentives to support the development of hydrogen projects, investing in hydrogen infrastructure, and streamlining the planning process for hydrogen projects.

The UK needs to catch up with other European countries in the race to develop hydrogen energy. The government needs to do more to support the sector, such as providing clarity on its plans and offering financial incentives to companies developing hydrogen projects.