UK Hydrogen Energy Plan - Developments from 2007 to the 2020s

UK Hydrogen Energy Plan - Developments from 2007 to the 2020s

In 2007, the UK government embarked on a new energy infrastructure based on hydrogen. The plan aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the use of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the transportation sector. The goal at the time was to convert 20% of the country's transportation fleet to hydrogen fuel by 2030. At the same time, efforts were underway to expand the use of hydrogen in the industrial sector, to retrofit existing natural gas infrastructure to be hydrogen compatible, and to promote the use of green hydrogen that utilizes renewable energy.

Progress in the 2010s
In the 2010s, the United Kingdom launched a number of concrete projects to make hydrogen energy practical: in 2015, the Hydrogen Mobility Europe plan was launched, in which European countries, including the United Kingdom, worked together to promote the development of hydrogen station infrastructure. Under this plan, more than 10 commercial hydrogen stations were installed in the United Kingdom by 2020 and began operating, primarily in London and Birmingham.

In Scotland, the "Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub" project is underway, with the introduction of Europe's first hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet (10 vehicles) and hydrogen production facilities. This marks a step forward in the decarbonization of public transport.

In 2018, the UK government announced its "Road to Zero" strategy, with plans to make all new cars zero-emission by 2040. In line with this, support for hydrogen fueled vehicles was extended and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles such as the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo were introduced to the market.

Developments in the 2020s
In the 2020s, the UK's hydrogen energy program accelerated even further. Under the Ten Point Plan, the government allocated £240 million to a hydrogen fund with a target of 5 gigawatts of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity per year by 2030. In the Tayside region, "B.P." is building a blue hydrogen production plant with a capacity of more than 1 million tons per year, with the aim of achieving both green and blue hydrogen. In the Humber region, "Equinor's" Hydrogen to Humber Salt End project is underway, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 10 million tons per year through the supply of hydrogen to industrial zones.

In the transportation sector, more than 300 hydrogen fuel cell buses have been installed mainly in London, and in Wales, First Bus is in the process of switching to hydrogen fueled buses altogether. Companies such as Hyundai and Toyota are stepping up the supply of commercial vehicles, and hydrogen technology is also being used in fleet vehicles and freight transport.

Challenges and Prospects
While the cost of hydrogen production and infrastructure development remain challenges, the UK government has set a goal of virtually zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has placed hydrogen energy at the core of its strategy. The UK's efforts since 2007 have laid the foundation for the UK's leadership in the international hydrogen energy market, and further innovation and investment is expected in the years ahead.