Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Industry

Baroness Walmsley Excerpts

Wednesday 19th November 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Walmsley]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to promote the hydrogen and fuel cell industry in the United Kingdom.

[Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Wilson of Sedgefield) (Lab)]

The Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan sets out a clear plan to boost growth in the UK hydrogen industry, including: deployment certainty for future hydrogen allocation rounds; launching the first transport and storage allocation round in hydrogen to power our business model next year; exploring options to expand the clear industry bonus of hydrogen; delivering events connecting developers with suppliers; and a comprehensive public financial institution offering, including the £1 billion Great British Energy supply chain.

[Baroness Walmsley (LD)]

I thank the Minister for his Answer. I welcome the 27 projects that have been shortlisted under hydrogen allocation round 2. I hope that they are as successful as the 10 of the 11 projects in hydrogen allocation round 1 that now have contracts enabling them to move to the construction phase. Can the Minister confirm what steps the Government are taking to increase the levels of UK-made technology used in both hydrogen allocation round projects to ensure that they do not have to buy it in from abroad and that it can achieve its potential in terms of jobs in the UK and the UK economy?

[Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Lab)]

I thank the noble Baroness for that question. This is a very important sector that the Government are working on, and we want to see it improve. The Government highly value regular engagement with the industry. We will be meeting the industry next week, on 26 November, to work out how we can work together and what else we can do to make sure that this sector is a success. We intend to invest in the supply chain. In due course we will publish a hydrogen strategy policy. We should remember as well that, globally, by 2050, this industry could be worth $1 trillion. That is something I want to see the UK be part of.