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Sun-rich regions (like deserts in the Middle East and North Africa) have vast potential for generating green hydrogen from solar-powered electrolysis, which Europe & UK hopes to tap into.

Hydrogen has rapidly emerged as a cornerstone of clean energy strategies in the UK and Europe. In the push to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, hydrogen is viewed as a crucial tool to decarbonize sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy industries (steel, cement, chemicals) and long-distance transport (shipping, aviation) [1].

Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen emits only water at the point of use, no carbon, making it an attractive clean-burning fuel for the future. However, hydrogen is not a silver bullet; its production and use come with challenges, and it must be applied strategically in areas where it adds real value [1].

This blog will examine the emerging trends, policy shifts, and controversies shaping the hydrogen supply chain in the UK and Europe, providing a clear picture for policymakers, industry professionals, academics, and the general public alike.

Hydrogen's Role in the Clean Energy Transition

Both the European Union and the UK have positioned hydrogen as central to their clean energy transition plans. Currently, hydrogen constitutes less than 2% of Europe's energy consumption, with most being "grey" hydrogen produced from natural gas [2]. The future vision, however, is much more ambitious:

• Under the EU's Hydrogen Strategy, enhanced by the 2022 REPowerEU plan, Europe aims to produce 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen domestically and import an additional 10 million tonnes annually by 2030 [2].
• By 2050, the EU expects hydrogen to supply approximately 10% of its total energy needs [2], reducing emissions in energy-intensive industries and heavy transport.

The UK similarly views hydrogen as essential for achieving net-zero. In 2022, the British government's Energy Security Strategy doubled its hydrogen production target to 10 GW of low-carbon hydrogen capacity by 2030, with at least half coming from "green" hydrogen produced via renewables [3]. For context, 10 GW could supply industry, power generation, and vehicles with hydrogen equivalent to a significant portion of current gas usage.

Types of Hydrogen:

• Green hydrogen: Often considered the gold standard, is produced by splitting water using renewable electricity, generating hydrogen with zero direct CO₂ emissions [3].
• Blue hydrogen: Produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS), as a transitional solution for the 2020s [3]. While blue hydrogen can be produced at large scale in industrial hubs (utilizing North Sea gas and offshore CO₂ storage), it isn't emission-free, current carbon capture technology still allows 5–15% of CO₂ to escape, and upstream gas extraction creates additional emissions [4].