Unlocking the potential of Hydrogen in the East and Southeast of England
Hydrogen is essential for the UK and global economy, serving as a feedstock for numerous industries and aiding transport decarbonisation, with significant growth expected over the coming years. To harness this potential, the East and Southeast of England are focusing on developing a local green hydrogen economy, capitalising on the region’s local resources, infrastructure and capabilities.
IfM Engage has led two significant projects to identify opportunities and foster collaboration among stakeholders. These initiatives have resulted in actionable plans that emphasise the need for coordinated efforts across academia, industry, and public sectors to establish the region as a hub for hydrogen-based solutions and ensure sustainable growth in this vital emerging sector.
Studies show that hydrogen is key to achieving the UK’s Net Zero targets, with demand expected to reach 80 to 140 TWh by 2035 – that’s the equivalent energy needed to run 30 to 40 million average UK households for a year. Currently, most hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels, which emit carbon. To meet future sustainability objectives, production pathways via renewable energies (green hydrogen) and nuclear energy (pink hydrogen) offer alternatives for the region.
Due to its projected future demand, local resources, infrastructure and capabilities, the East and Southeast of England has a significant opportunity to establish a local hydrogen economy centred around low-emission production pathways – something local businesses and research institutions are keen to capitalise on.
To unlock the potential of hydrogen in the East and Southeast of England, IfM Engage led two complementary projects, which aimed to:
1) Leverage University of Cambridge research to support the hydrogen industry, local authorities and policy-decision-makers.
2) Unite stakeholders across the hydrogen value chain to identify the way forward for the East and Southeast of England, prioritising key areas, and utilising existing strengths and infrastructure.
Led by Principal Solution Development Specialist Dr Diana Khripko, the projects used tools and techniques developed at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) to create plans, identify potential collaborations, and explore associated opportunities and challenges.
“As the climate crisis intensifies, the urgency for coordinated climate action at national and local levels has never been greater. The UK Government has made a substantial effort to explore the potential of hydrogen within its Net Zero decarbonisation strategy, recognising hydrogen as a critical pillar in the energy transition,” says Diana. “The East and Southeast of England serve as prime examples of regions with favourable conditions for green hydrogen generation, supported by already installed offshore wind capacity and a legacy gas network infrastructure. The region boasts significant local demand, including major airports, agriculture and the UK’s largest port, as well as excellent transport links for export.”
Roadmapping for success
IfM Engage has over 25 years of experience in facilitating roadmapping workshops for industry clients. Our specialist team has led more than 300 roadmapping projects worldwide, effectively addressing complex innovation management and policy issues in an integrated manner. Our techniques are built on extensive roadmapping research from the IfM, recognised as international thought leaders in the field.
Both projects utilised the ‘fast-start approach for strategic roadmapping’ (S-Plan), a powerful technique developed at the IfM. Roadmaps offer a structured visualisation of information for specific strategic aspects, supporting planning across various applications. S-Plan is particularly suited for sector-level strategy, allowing for a comprehensive overview of key issues, strategic options, and innovation opportunities, which leads to informed decisions and actions. Our collaborative approach ensures buy-in and effective communication of results throughout the organisation and beyond.
University of Cambridge research to support the hydrogen industry
The University of Cambridge’s Maxwell Centre has initiated a strategic roadmap process to explore how East and Southeast England can leverage research on hydrogen-based next-generation fuels to support the UK’s Net Zero ambitions.
The Roadmapping workshop brought together academic experts from Physical Sciences, Technology, and Humanities and key stakeholders to discuss opportunities and challenges specifically in development of hydrogen-based fuels. In addition to already ongoing efforts in aviation, the workshop identified further five key areas requiring more research and collaboration:
1) Assessing hydrogen demand and engaging industrial users.
2) Collaborating with local ports to explore hydrogen as a maritime fuel.
3) A study on repurposing existing infrastructure and distribution networks.
4) Collaborative R&D for cost-effective hydrogen production.
5) Creating a multi-disciplinary regional hydrogen innovation hub to evaluate and develop upskilling pathways.
“A common requirement across all these initiatives is the need for coordination among various stakeholders—academia, industry, and the public sector—throughout the entire value chain, including production, distribution, and usage,” says Diana. “The roadmapping techniques applied by IfM Engage are particularly advantageous for tackling these complex issues, as they bring experts together to discuss and ideate in a systematic and constructive way.”
The Hydrogen East Cluster
The Hydrogen East Cluster is a new industry-led consortium focused on advancing the hydrogen economy in the region by uniting stakeholders to raise awareness and collaborate effectively. By pooling resources and expertise, they aim to maximise funding opportunities and lead in the distribution and management of green hydrogen.
This strategic roadmapping workshop brought together over 30 participants from academia, industry, and local authorities to develop a roadmap for a hydrogen and next-generation fuels economy in East and Southeast England. The workshop resulted in six initiatives that can help leverage local potential:
1) Map the demand for hydrogen and its derivatives across the region.
2) Develop a demonstrator project for hydrogen deployment reflecting on the demand side of the region.
3) Explore and map the investment and funding landscape at local and national levels for various timeframes.
4) Create a storage and distribution strategy aligned with the UK’s national Hydrogen Strategy and with the plans of other regions.
5) Establish micro-scale hydrogen generation and expertise hubs.
6) Promote communication and education about the hydrogen economy and its role in decarbonisation.
The future of hydrogen
These roadmapping initiatives mark a crucial milestone in the local transition, setting a benchmark for regional development. With the right investment, supportive policies, and collaboration, the East and Southeast of England can become a global hub for hydrogen-based innovation. The roadmapping process helped clearly outline the steps needed to unlock the region’s hydrogen potential. By fostering collaboration and implementing innovative strategies, the region can lead the way towards a decarbonised, hydrogen-powered future.
While the future of the green hydrogen economy is still uncertain, roadmapping workshops like these are essential in unlocking its potential. Creating a unified and strategic way forward that benefits and is in agreement with all stakeholders is essential in ensuring future success, with these reports underscoring the importance of a collaborative approach.
To learn more about how IfM Engage can benefit your plans for future Hydrogen infrastructure, contact us via email to ifm-enquiries@eng.cam.ac.uk
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