Delays to UK hydrogen plan could put jobs at risk, warns trade body
The Hydrogen Energy Association (HEA) urges action on hydrogen allocation rounds and government strategy refresh.
In a joint letter sent to the Secretaries of State and the Chancellor, the HEA warns that continued uncertainty is already eroding business confidence, stalling investment decisions and putting high-value UK jobs at risk.
It is calling for the immediate publication of HAR 2 project outcomes, the HAR 3 market engagement exercise and rapid progression of the Hydrogen Strategy refresh, arguing that the UK risks falling behind international competitors at a critical moment for the global hydrogen economy.
Dr Emma Guthrie, CEO of the Hydrogen Energy Association, says, 'The UK hydrogen sector is ready to invest, build and deliver – but it cannot do so in a policy vacuum.
'Every day of delay to HAR 2, HAR 3 and the Hydrogen Strategy refresh chips away at investor confidence, pushes projects, capital and skilled jobs elsewhere and risks a negative spiral of eroding business confidence.'
The HEA has also submitted a package of industry case studies to government, to demonstrate the scale of investment and job creation already at risk as a result of prolonged policy uncertainty.
It says that under an improved delivery environment – with faster decision-making, clearer demand signals and better alignment across departments – industry respondents to the HEA survey indicate the sector could support a four-fold increase in employment, creating around 17,000 UK hydrogen jobs by 2030, spanning engineering, construction, manufacturing, infrastructure and operations.
