Hydrogen Bonding

Written to build on the COP26 meetings in Glasgow, the purpose of this paper is to explore the hydrogen economies of both the UK and China and identify opportunities for collaboration in future.

It’s clear that society has no choice but to head down the path away from fossil fuels, and hydrogen inevitably has a role to play.

The paper frames how low‐carbon hydrogen will be deployed in the energy system in future, detailing the likely paths of development for both the supply and demand sides. As part of this, it takes us on a journey to encounter many different participants in the new hydrogen economies of both China and the UK.

We discuss in depth the readiness (or otherwise) of finance to engage with the topic of hydrogen, covering the perspectives of banks and investors. We also look at the mechanisms being developed by governments to underpin investment in, and lending to, the low‐carbon hydrogen sector in future.

We approach the topic with eyes wide open, mindful that coupled with tremendous opportunity there is a real risk of failure in the sector both from a project and a technological perspective.

The paper is written as much for the layman as for the informed industry expert. It aims to be informative and accessible so that there is something of value for every reader.