Recommendation 4

We conclude that both the UK and Scottish Governments’ hydrogen strategies require interim targets to ensure that hydrogen production and net zero commitments are met. We recommend that both UK and Scottish Governments set such interim targets for hydrogen production, beyond 2030, to reach its net zero targets planned for 2050. In particular, we recommend the Scottish Government expedite their interim target setting due to the more pressing deadline they set of 2045. By the beginning of the next Parliamentary session, the UK and Scottish Governments should set deadlines for approving a series of steps around hydrogen production and actions to stimulate demand of low carbon hydrogen, as the decisions need to be made without delay to ensure that net zero targets are met, energy security is obtained, job security is provided for workers in Scotland, and cleaner energy production and international competitiveness are realised. By the beginning of the next Parliamentary session, the UK and Scottish Governments must publish a timeline of key decisions for projects, with justification of the dates set out in the timeline, as well as interim targets for production and demand of both blue and green hydrogen, and the phasing out of grey hydrogen.