Recommendation 6

We acknowledge the concerns raised by our witnesses around slippage in timings for hydrogen projects. This could delay the delivery of low carbon hydrogen projects and result in a failure to meet net zero targets. Urgency is required now; timely decision making will also mean Scotland and the rest of the UK do not get left behind with technology development and hydrogen production when compared to other countries’ hydrogen sectors. We recommend that the UK Government sets out how it will address concerns we have heard around timings of decisions for hydrogen projects, including justification for the timing of decisions and an assessment of the impact the timing of decisions will have for the delivery of low carbon hydrogen projects, net zero targets and Scotland—and the rest of the UK’s— international competitiveness in the sector.