Hydrogen and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)

Are you ready to accelerate your Hydrogen business?

Since publishing the UK’s National Hydrogen Strategy in 2021, the UK’s twin track approach prioritises both green and blue hydrogen. We have doubled our ambition to up to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, with at least half of this coming from electrolytic hydrogen, drawing on the scale up of UK offshore wind and other renewables.

This ambition is backed by a live and growing pipeline of over 250 projects. The recent first electrolytic hydrogen allocation round is offering capital support from the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund and revenue support from our Hydrogen Production Business Model to 20 projects, going live as of 2025.

This brings investment opportunities across the value-chain.

Download our Hydrogen Investment Roadmap PDF (1.1MB)opens bit.ly in a new tab to explore further.

But also means you can scale your business by partnering with the over 200 leading companies working on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies - in the UK and across Europe.

With world-leading capability in the production of electrolysers and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as capability across the breadth of hydrogen applications, the UK is also a world leader in CCUS (Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage) to support net zero and energy security across Europe.

Download our CCUS Investment Roadmap PDF (1.1MB)opens bit.ly in a new tab to explore active CCUS projects.

View the UK Expansion Guideopens bit.ly in a new tab.

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3 reasons to choose the UK for Hydrogen

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Geology. The UK has favourable geology for large-scale hydrogen storage in salt caverns and disused oil and gas fields under the North Sea. The UK has a global leading geological advantage – having one of the greatest CO2 storage potentials of any country in the world.

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Ambition. The UK aims to produce up to 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen power by 2030, with at least half coming from green hydrogen. We will use excess offshore wind power to bring down costs. The UK Government has published delivery roadmaps to support industry to invest in carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen.

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Demand. UK hydrogen demand is estimated to reach 80 to 140 terawatt-hours in 2035. The increase in UK hydrogen production ambition, with greater focus on electrolytic hydrogen production, has opened potential opportunities to export hydrogen from the UK at scale.

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UK supply chain strengths to explore

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Dedicated R&D funding

The UK’s dedicated R&D funding for hydrogen is  focussed on heavier applications, such as maritime, aviation and road freight, or in regional hubs where transport can help support its use in industrial, energy.

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Investment to reduce emissions

We have recently announced investments which include hydrogen vehicles and vessels, such as the £206m UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK-SHORE) and £200m for our Zero Emission Road Freight Demonstration (ZERFD).

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UK Government innovation funding programme

We have created the Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator, a £26 million innovation funding programme to support the demonstration of end-to-end industrial fuel switching to hydrogen in the UK.

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World-leading expertise

The UK has world-leading expertise to draw upon – with two of the world’s major process licensors for these projects based in the UK – and a mature supply chain to utilise from wider industries such as oil & gas and chemicals.

Hydrogen investment opportunities in the UK

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Hydrogen in North East Scotland

Scotland is perfectly placed to meet a significant proportion of Europe’s hydrogen demand, which could reach 700 TWh annually by 2050. Strategically positioned on the North Sea, Scotland has strong clusters of offshore and onshore wind, oil and gas, maritime, chemicals and gas distribution.

Explore North East Scotlandopens bit.ly in a new tab
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East Midlands Freeport

East Midlands Freeport (EMF) is uniquely placed to capitalise and innovate on the region’s unrivalled commercial and industrial strengths. Hydrogen is a significant opportunity with hydrogen heat pumps and boilers being developed in the region, as well as hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen generation taking place.

Explore East Midlands Freeportopens bit.ly in a new tab
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Freeport East (Felixstowe and Harwich)

Freeport East is a world-leading centre for clean energy production, offering a unique set of opportunities and support for investors, traders, manufacturers and suppliers. Freeport East covers 1,500 square km and includes a range of development and investment opportunities.

Explore Freeport Eastopens bit.ly in a new tab

Cost-effective finance solutions for project owners

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK Government’s export credit agency offering long-term, cost-effective finance solutions for buyers procuring goods and services from the UK. A £2bn Clean Growth Direct Lending Facility dedicates funding specifically for clean growth and renewable energy projects.

Explore UK Export Financeopens bit.ly in a new tab
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Meet the leaders in the UK's Hydrogen ecosystem at these events

Hyvolution Summit

30 January-1 February 2024

Paris

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Hydrogen UK Annual Conference & Awards

11-12 March 2024

Birmingham

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World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition

13-15 May 2024

Rotterdam

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Hydrogen Energy Association Conference

23 May 2024

London

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Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe

22-24 October 2024

Hamburg

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How we can help

The United Kingdom's Department for Business & Trade (DBT) is a specialised government body with responsibility for negotiating international trade policy, supporting business, as well as delivering an outward-looking trade diplomacy strategy.

Our international network provides a global reach in 170 countries. We are your expert guides on your journey to invest in the UK. We offer free and confidential advice and services to inward investors, giving new investors the confidence to invest and helping existing inward investors to expand and grow – using the UK as your gateway to the world.

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