‘World’s first’ hydrogen-powered backhoe loader deployed on £10bn Lower Thames Crossing

2022 has seen an exponential increase of developments in the hydrogen sector.

Accelerated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent surge in energy prices, countries and companies across the world have brought forward plans to produce, store, transport and consume clean hydrogen.

Green hydrogen has been cheaper than liquefied natural gas delivered by tanker in much of Europe this year, providing a clear signal to hydrogen investors.

In the U.K the government has opened applications for the £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, published the Hydrogen Investor Roadmap, and set out details for the Hydrogen Business Model and Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.

The government have reaffirmed its vision for the UK to be a hydrogen-based economy – as set out in the Hydrogen Strategy published in August 2021. This is a major next step in delivering the government’s ambition to have 1GW of electrolytic hydrogen in operation or construction by the end of 2025 – which could produce enough hydrogen to fuel up to 45,000 buses per year.

The northern hemisphere is also rapidly waking up to the realities of climate change after heatwaves and droughts ripped across Europe and North America this summer, bolstering the case for increased investment in zero-carbon hydrogen.

Research continues to point to rapidly declining costs for producing hydrogen. Economies of scale will help push down the price of hydrogen electrolyses to $340/kW by 2030.