Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Accepted
Paragraph: 75
Energy storage for electricity generation is widely recognised as an important component of the Net...
Recommendation
Energy storage for electricity generation is widely recognised as an important component of the Net Zero economy, and there are several potential technologies available for energy storage. Hydrogen has unique features as a means of energy storage, since as a clean-burning gas it can be transported through existing infrastructure and stored safely for long periods of time, if necessary. We welcome the Government’s recognition of the potential role of hydrogen as an important means of energy storage. The Government should continue to provide the necessary policy support and infrastructure for grid-scale energy storage technologies. Findings from hydrogen energy storage trials should be recorded and shared between trials to ensure that as much is learned as possible.
Government Response Summary
The government recognised hydrogen storage (along with transport) infrastructure as an important enabler of the hydrogen economy and committed to designing a hydrogen storage infrastructure business model by 2025, with a consultation on hydrogen transport and storage business models published in August 2022.
Paragraph Reference:
75
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
In the BESS, government recognised that hydrogen storage (along with transport) infrastructure would be an important enabler of the hydrogen economy to connect hydrogen producers with offtakers; and to align production with demand. The UK Hydrogen Strategy also recognised that for a future energy system with a lot of intermittent renewable power generation, hydrogen could be an important energy storage medium, i.e.: excess renewable power is converted into hydrogen through electrolysis (power-to- gas); this hydrogen is stored and is ready when needed and can be used as a fuel across the economy. This could include as a fuel for low carbon dispatchable power generation (gas-to-power). The availability of large-scale hydrogen storage is expected to be critical to enabling hydrogen fuelled power generation to operate flexibly, and so provide low carbon capacity to complement intermittent renewable generation. In this respect, it has the potential to contribute to the delivery of the government’s commitment for a fully decarbonised power sector by 2035 (subject to security of supply). In the BESS, government also committed to designing a hydrogen storage infrastructure business model by 2025, which would be aimed at de-risking private investment in infrastructure projects. Government published a consultation on hydrogen transport and storage business models in August 2022. This consultation has now closed, with a response be published in due course. Government will continue to engage with the hydrogen storage industry to support our understanding of the sector and the challenges facing it.