Season 4 Episode 3:The Hydrogen Economy - A New Fuel for a Net Zero Future

Impulse To Innovation

The UK’s first-ever Hydrogen Strategy was released in 2021 and was revised last year, as part of the Government’s commitment to a green industrial revolution. The strategy lays the foundation for how Government will work with industry to meet its ambition for 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 – the equivalent of replacing natural gas in powering around 3 million UK homes each year, as well as powering transport and businesses, particularly heavy industry. This has the potential of delivering emissions savings equivalent to the carbon captured by 700 million trees.

A UK-wide hydrogen economy could be worth £900 million and create over 9,000 jobs by 2030, with the potential to increase to 100,000 jobs and £13 billion by 2050.

In the coming years hydrogen could play an important role in decarbonising polluting, energy-intensive industries like chemicals, oil refineries, power and heavy transport like shipping, HGV lorries and trains, helping these sectors move away from traditional fossil fuels.

With Government analysis suggesting that 20-35% of the UK’s energy consumption by 2050 could be hydrogen-based, this new energy source could be critical to meet the UK's target of net zero and could help to cut emissions by 78% by 2035.

But is this just a flight of fantasy by the UK Government or a real opportunity for the UK to lead the way in hydrogen technology and production?

To find out more about hydrogen as a fuel source, its application in the aviation industry and what a hydrogen economy looks like, Helen spoke with engineers Tim Podesta & Stephen Phillips.

Tim is a consultant engineer with over 30 years’ experience in the oil, gas, petrochemical and energy industries, focusing on project management, investment analysis and process improvement. Tim’s focus is on the net zero agenda and the potential for a hydrogen economy alongside clean electricity. He is actively involved in the IMechE’s Hydrogen forum which has been set up to look at the long-term implications of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. Tim is a fellow of the Imeche and a committee member of the Institution’s Management Group

Stephen is a sustainable aerostructures lead engineer with Spirit AeroSystems and has been actively involved in working with the Aerospace technology Institute on their FlyZero project to realise zero-carbon emission commercial aviation by 2030. He is a chartered mechanical engineer has recently become the chair of the aerospace division at the IMechE.

Useful Links

If you would like to speak to a member of the Hydrogen Technical Committee or get involved with its work please contact IMechE Enquiries at [e-mail]

Engineering Challenges in the Hydrogen Economy 2023...Roundtable interview with six of our conference speakers

UK Hydrogen Strategy

Aerospace Technology Institute FlyZero Project

PE Magazine report on Sustainability

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [e-mail]

You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org