Unlocking the UK’s hydrogen potential: the role of wind power

Unlocking the UK’s hydrogen potential: the role of wind power

The Energy Systems Catapult commissioned Ricardo, as part of the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative, to develop a comprehensive study detailing the progress and potential of deploying large-scale wind facilities coupled with water electrolysers to produce hydrogen across the UK. The study includes a comprehensive analytical narrative capturing the status and impact of available supporting infrastructure, technology supply chains, geographical constraints, storage needs, and costs on the successful deployment of wind-electrolyser systems.

The study provided several key findings, including:

• The expansion of onshore wind will be crucial due to demonstrable potential to be harnessed, and offshore wind should be explored simultaneously (fixed and floating).
• The grid reinforcement program will need to be rapidly accelerated as will the contribution to electrolysers managing the grid. Related business models must be properly set out to prevent unintended consequences.
• Projects currently in the pipeline – HAR1 & HAR2 – must reach a financial investment decision and begin to produce hydrogen, otherwise confidence in the industry will continue to decline. Various support mechanisms should be implemented to prioritise and manage the success of these vital projects.
• There is greater opportunity for hydrogen from wind in the areas of the country with the lower population densities, such as the Scottish Highlands, central Wales and the English counties of Cumbria and Northumberland, yet the demand will likely be the opposite. It will be necessary to be able to transport the molecules from these locations, which will require planning and infrastructure to reflect demand and supply.

The content of the study can form the basis for further policy development and energy systems planning in the UK. For further details, please refer to the full report available here.

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