Current Pipeline Of Blue Hydrogen Projects Will Exceed UK 2030 Targets

The latest analysis from Westwood Global Energy Group, a specialist energy market research and consultancy firm, reveals that blue hydrogen projects account for over 16 GW of total announced hydrogen capacity in the UK and Norway, equivalent to approximately 90 percent of the hydrogen projects total for the same region. The UK alone accounts for 13GW capacity.

Further analysis shows that although there are four times the number of green hydrogen projects than blue, projected hydrogen capacity will largely be driven by the latter. This will be a key catalyst in the development of hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) clusters.

“Although considerable offshore wind projects are developing in Northwest Europe, hydrogen projects are emerging at an unrivaled pace. The scale of blue hydrogen developments makes them a necessity to ensure 2030 regional targets are met – in fact, the current pipeline of announced capacity for UK projects would exceed targets if all achieved their planned start-up dates,” David Linden, Head of Energy Transition at Westwood, said.

“This rate of change is representative of what we can expect as the energy transition gathers momentum. We are seeing increasing numbers of energy stakeholders diversifying their portfolios – and we are moving in step. In doing so, we can support our clients to focus on what matters and better understand the growth of emerging energy sources, as well as the developing convergence of existing oil and gas and new energies for improved decision making,” he added.

These findings follow the launch of Atlas New Energies; an integrated market intelligence solution covering energy clusters, offshore wind, hydrogen, CCS, and related oil and gas infrastructure in the UK and Norway. This tool allows users to access and interrogate a database of over 250 new energies projects in the UK and Norway, providing greater transparency and a fuller understanding of the opportunities for companies.

“This new solution is a natural next step to our existing Atlas solution and is very much driven by client demand and energy landscape trends. For those energy players looking to enter the new energies space, some of the biggest opportunities, can be found in Northwest Europe. Deciding on what role to play will be crucial for those looking to maximize their investment in this sector – and we are committed to supporting with the strategic, technical, and commercial questions that will inform the direction of the industry for years to come,” Emma Cruickshank, Head of Research, Northwest Europe at Westwood, stated.

To contact the author, email bojan.lepic@rigzone.com