United Kingdom – Hydrogen innovation projects in the pipeline could generate nearly 17,000 high-tech, green jobs in the industrial heartlands of the United Kingdom, according to new study published by the Energy Networks Association (ENA).
£4.4 billion is proposed for the development of hydrogen gas grids to aid in the reduction of carbon emissions from Britain’s six Industrial Clusters, which are concentrated in strategically significant heavy industries such as chemicals, iron, steel, glass, and ceramics. Over 9,000 of the anticipated job creations would be in network companies, with another 8,000 in supply chain partners.
Up to 25,000 jobs
According to the ENA’s Innovation Impacts report, new hydrogen innovation projects proposed by Britain’s five gas network companies have the potential to create up to 25,000 highly skilled green jobs across the country over the next decade in five strategically important areas, including industrial clusters, as they plan to invest a total of £6.8 billion in proposed hydrogen innovation projects.
Up to 13,300 employment would be produced directly by network companies, with an additional 11,400 jobs created through supply chain partners, in projects located around the country.
The energy regulator, Ofgem, has received the investment proposals as part of the firms’ business plans. The regulator is responsible for approving investment proposals made by the United Kingdom’s gas and electricity network operators.
The study details how the businesses intend to invest:
Emission reduction
£4.4 billion to assist in the reduction of emissions in the industrial heartlands of the United Kingdom, such as HyNet North West, which will produce, store, and distribute hydrogen while capturing and storing carbon from heavy manufacturing businesses. These initiatives are planned to create approximately 17,000 high-tech green jobs throughout the industrial heartlands of the United Kingdom, including north-west England, the Humber and Teesside, Southampton, north-east Scotland, and south-east Wales.
Research acceleration
£2.2 billion in initiatives to accelerate research into repurposing existing gas pipelines to make them hydrogen-ready, ensuring that gas network providers can deliver on the Government’s hydrogen plans for hydrogen village and town trials. This investment is expected to result in the creation of around 6,700 employment in Fife, Cumbria, and southern England, among other regions.
HyDeploy expansion
£150 million in projects to prepare the broader energy system and economy for hydrogen, including the expansion of the HyDeploy project to trial blending up to 20% hydrogen into the existing grid in north-east England and the continuation of the Future Billing Methodology project, which will ensure people’s energy bills remain accurate as we increase our use of hydrogen. This is expected to result in the creation of more than 700 employment in the north east and central regions of England.
Transportation
£19.5 million in transportation and other projects, including research into how hydrogen may be used to cut emissions from cars and other excellent vehicles, as well as integrating it with other green technologies and gases, such as wind farms and biomethane. Nearly 100 employment are predicted to be created as a result of these developments.
