Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 55
There is uncertainty about the extent to which blue hydrogen can play a role in...
Recommendation
There is uncertainty about the extent to which blue hydrogen can play a role in a Net Zero economy in the mid to long term, even if it may be cheaper and ready to deploy in certain industrial settings sooner than green hydrogen, as some industrial users already possess the necessary infrastructure. The Government should not be dependent on either blue or green hydrogen alone in the short-term. The Government’s decision to continue using blue hydrogen should be dependent on the standard CO₂ capture rate reaching 95% by 2030 and in excess of 99% well in advance of 2050. In its response to this Report the Government should set out its expectations of how much CO₂ could be captured in hydrogen production and which industrial settings it sees as being ready to utilise blue hydrogen prior to 2050.
Government Response Summary
The government supports multiple hydrogen production technologies, including both electrolytic and CCUS-enabled hydrogen, as set out in 2021’s UK Hydrogen Strategy and capture rate of at least 85% would be achieved in order for CCUS-enabled technologies to comply with the current threshold.
Paragraph Reference:
55
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Government has established an approach which supports multiple hydrogen production technologies, including both electrolytic and CCUS-enabled hydrogen, as set out in 2021’s UK Hydrogen Strategy. The Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard (LCHS) sets a maximum threshold for greenhouse gas emissions allowed in the production process for hydrogen to be considered ‘low carbon hydrogen’, and a methodology for calculating emissions. While the LCHS does not mandate a capture rate, there is an assumption that at least 85% would be achieved in order for CCUS-enabled technologies to comply with the current threshold. The Environment Agency is set to publish draft guidance on best practices for CCUS-enabled hydrogen production which may point to a minimum recommended capture rate. As indicated in the UK Hydrogen Strategy Update to Market: July 2022, hydrogen production projects eligible under Phase-2 of the Cluster Sequencing process are aiming for capture rates of 95% or more, enabling significant emissions reductions for end users relative to burning natural gas.