Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Sixth Report - Hydrogen and carbon capture in Scotland
Scottish Affairs Committee
HC 83
Published 10 March 2023
Recommendations
2
Acknowledged
Para 26
The UK and Scottish Governments have different net zero target dates of 2050 and 2045...
Recommendation
The UK and Scottish Governments have different net zero target dates of 2050 and 2045 respectively. We recommend the UK and Scottish Governments respond to this report explaining how they will work together to ensure respective targets will be met. …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that it is working with the Devolved Administrations on tackling climate change and delivering net zero, collaborating at all levels, including through the Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change Inter-ministerial Group and the official-level Net Zero Nations Board.
Scotland Office
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5
Acknowledged
Para 29
We are concerned that the Scottish Government does not see more potential in Green Freeports...
Recommendation
We are concerned that the Scottish Government does not see more potential in Green Freeports to complement Scottish and UK hydrogen policies, despite them being a joint UK and Scottish Government initiative and the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport …
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Government Response Summary
The UK and Scottish governments will use the business case development of the Green Freeports as a mechanism to explore how they can support Scottish and UK hydrogen ambitions.
Scotland Office
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13
Acknowledged
Para 69
We recommend that the UK and Scottish Governments work more closely to ensure the achievability...
Recommendation
We recommend that the UK and Scottish Governments work more closely to ensure the achievability of their respective ambitions for hydrogen exports, and that the economic benefits are realised. In its response to this report, the UK Government should continue …
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Government Response Summary
The government recognizes the opportunities for UK businesses and is engaging with trade associations and potential exporters to understand opportunities and barriers, and will update its position in line with wider global developments. They also mentioned engaging with investors, the wider hydrogen industry, and the Scottish Government while developing investment profiling work.
Scotland Office
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15
Acknowledged
We recommend that the UK Government highlight its potential for export to overseas markets immediately.
Recommendation
We recommend that the UK Government highlight its potential for export to overseas markets immediately. This is to ensure that companies in Scotland can benefit from global hydrogen export markets and opportunities and not be left behind. (Paragraph 71) Storage …
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Government Response Summary
The UK Government is actively engaging overseas markets and potential offtakers to scope demand and opportunities for the export of UK hydrogen and will continue to engage colleagues in the Scottish Government to ensure that companies in Scotland can take advantage of these opportunities as they develop and grow.
Scotland Office
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19
Acknowledged
We recommend that the UK Government should examine how storage of low carbon hydrogen could...
Recommendation
We recommend that the UK Government should examine how storage of low carbon hydrogen could be made a national infrastructure asset as this could help guarantee energy security for the UK. (Paragraph 92) Jobs and skills training
Government Response Summary
The UK Government recognises the potential role for hydrogen storage in providing broader energy security and states that its commitment to designing a hydrogen storage business model will support the development of hydrogen storage infrastructure, and will continue to consider whether further regulatory or other interventions are required.
Scotland Office
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24
Acknowledged
We recommend that, in anticipation of a decision around the use of hydrogen in heating...
Recommendation
We recommend that, in anticipation of a decision around the use of hydrogen in heating by 2026, the UK Government should mandate hydrogen-ready boilers for all suitable new or replacement installations as soon as practicable and at least introduce that …
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Government Response Summary
The Government has consulted on proposals to require that from 2026 all newly installed domestic-scale natural gas boilers be hydrogen-ready, subject to conditions, and is currently analysing responses.
Scotland Office
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Conclusions (2)
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 25
The UK and Scottish Governments have clear strategies and appropriate aspirations for hydrogen, with significant commonality in their ambitions. Overall relations between the UK and Scottish Governments in this area appear to be good with effective official-level and ministerial cooperation.
Government Response Summary
The UK Government agrees that both UK and Scottish Government have clear strategies and ambitions for hydrogen and engage regularly on policy developments.
12
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 68
The evidence we have received demonstrates that there is vast potential for the export of low carbon hydrogen and expertise from Scotland, which could generate significant economic benefits to the economy. We welcome some recent policy updates and note the UK Government’s focus on domestic decarbonisation as it strives towards …
Government Response Summary
The UK government agrees that close working between the two governments will be key to realizing benefits from exports, and states they are actively engaging Scottish Government officials on the export of UK hydrogen and related goods, services and expertise.