Stewart Clements, Director, HHIC said:

“It is encouraging to see the Government release this forward-looking Strategy, a vote of confidence in the future of hydrogen as a key part of our energy mix in the coming decades.

"We agree with the Secretary of State’s belief that hydrogen has great potential to reduce emissions from heating up and down the country whilst retaining the ease of use and minimal in-home changes which consumers want. We particularly welcome the support of blending hydrogen into the gas grid which can secure significant early reductions in the carbon intensity of the grid with zero disruption or change for consumers.

 “Investment in hydrogen will not only, as the Strategy states, create thousands of high skill, well paid jobs, it also safeguards the jobs and expertise we already have in our world-leading heating industry.

"Our member companies are fully behind a transition from natural gas to zero carbon hydrogen and have already been hard at work creating ‘hydrogen-ready’ products, including boilers, cookers and fires that are currently being trialled. HHIC is actively involved in the UK hydrogen projects and has worked with manufacturers and the Government on a definition for ‘hydrogen-ready’ boilers which could be rolled out from the middle of this decade.

"At HHIC, we look forward to continuing to work closely with the Government on establishing the feasibility and safety case for hydrogen as well as supporting the development of innovative, zero carbon hydrogen appliances.

"With the release of the Hydrogen Strategy, we can now be confident that, alongside other important technologies such as heat pumps, hydrogen will be a key component of our journey to net zero. We are excited to be part of working towards that essential transition.”