The East of England is set to play a starring role in the UK’s race to net zero, both as a hub for offshore wind development and green hydrogen production, the SNS2020 conference has heard.
Managing director of Iberdrola Renewables Jonathan Cole told the East of England Energy Group’s virtual Southern North Sea 2020 conference the region is key to government plans to eliminate net emissions by mid-century.
“The East of England is capable of producing absolutely massive quantities of low carbon electricity and has the infrastructure, know-how and skills to produce and transport hydrogen,” he told SNS2020 delegates.
An estimated 60% of all new offshore wind power added to the UK grid by 2050 is expected to be placed in the waters off East Anglia, said National Grid electricity transmission director David Wright during a conference session.
Cole highlighted ScottishPower Renewable’s proposed £6bn 3.1GW East Anglia Hub development as an example of the opportunities that will be created for regional companies by offshore wind development.
“There are so many businesses working in this region and we need to bring them along with us. The supply chain is at the heart of the innovation and skills development that the industry needs,” he added.
Industry experts meanwhile have backed East Anglia to become a major UK hub for green hydrogen and have established a programme dubbed ‘Hydrogen East’ to create a regional strategy for the gas.
“The large amounts of offshore wind planned off the region’s coast will really help leverage large volumes of green hydrogen,” said National Grid hydrogen director Antony Green.
Hydrogen East’s managing director Johnathan Reynolds said there is a “strategic case” for the Bacton Gas terminal in North Norfolk to become a hydrogen hub capable of supplying end users in the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands.
“We need to change the discussion around hydrogen by not only looking at production but also how we stimulate demand,” he said.
Reynolds identified shipping and agriculture as potential users of the gas regionally.