Hydrogen network could boost North West’s economy

New report claims hydrogen production hub could cut carbon emissions and create thousands of new jobs

A hydrogen network in the North West of England could boost the local economy by £1.6 billion and decarbonise the region’s energy, according to a new report.

The study by Peel Environmental outlines how a hydrogen network between Greater Manchester and Liverpool could help usher in a new era of hydrogen-fueled vehicles and also cut carbon emissions by 10 million tonnes by 2050.

It adds a hydrogen economy could also unlock £1.6 billion in gross value added (GVA) and create more than 2,300 jobs.

According to the report, a hydrogen production hub, including carbon capture and storage and utilisation facilities, could feed large industrial energy users in the region.

It could also support a network of hydrogen vehicle refuelling stations across Liverpool, Manchester, Cheshire and Warrington.

The study also states that hydrogen could be blended into the existing gas distribution network to cut carbon emissions at the point of consumption.

Dr. Tony Smith from Peel Environmental said a hydrogen economy in the North West would be a “game-changer” in “so many ways”.

“From decarbonising our energy and contributing to climate change targets, to making substantial improvements to the region’s air quality, delivering a fully-functioning hydrogen industry would be transformational,’ he said.

“This report shows there is real opportunity to attract inward investment, create thousands of jobs and put the North West at the forefront of the UK’s hydrogen industry,” added Smith.

It comes shortly after the UK’s first Energy Innovation District was launched in the North West to stimulate new energy technology.

In August, Cadent outlined proposals to create a “hydrogen cluster” in Manchester and Liverpool to test the use of the gas to decarbonise heat.

Under the plans, pure low-carbon hydrogen would be piped directly to a number of large industrial heat users, while limited volumes would also be injected into the local gas network for delivery to homes and businesses.