Draft Hydrogen Production Revenue Support (Directions, Eligibility and Counterparty) Regulations 2023

Ronnie Cowan Excerpts

Tuesday 12th December 2023 General Committees

[Ronnie Cowan (Inverclyde) (SNP)]

I shall keep my remarks short and sharp. It does not mean that the Minister will like them, but at least they will be brief. I turned up for this Delegated Legislation Committee at six o’clock last night, so I cannot be accused of being late to the show, but I think that the UK Government can. In 2021, the UK was ranked as the second most attractive market for hydrogen, but the UK Government’s lack of commitment means that the UK is now ranked eighth. It has slipped behind Germany, Japan and Canada. That is because the UK Government continually change their attitude to renewable energies.

The UK Government’s ambition is 10 GW by 2030. I hope that the Minister can tell me what will kick on after that. What is the final ambition? By when? The Scottish Government have an ambitious hydrogen plan to produce 5 GW by 2030 and to increase that to 25 GW by 2045. They are investing £100 million in the development of Scotland’s hydrogen economy. If the UK invested at the same scale, we would be looking at a bare minimum of £1 billion. Will the Minister clarify what the financial investment will be? The Government cannot continue at a pedestrian pace.

My concern is that lack of ambition is restricting our ability to create a net zero environment. The UK target is 2050; Scotland’s is 2045. I hope that the Minister will allay my fears. What do we kick on to after 10 GW? When will that happen and how much will it cost the taxpayer?