Policy & Socio-Economics

Hydrogen energy is considered one of the main measures of zero carbonization in energy systems but high equipment and hydrogen costs hinder the development of hydrogen energy technology. The objectives of this study are to quantify the environmental advantages of hydrogen energy through a carbon tax and study the application potential of hydrogen energy technology in a regional distributed energy system (RDES). In this study various building types in the smart community covered by Japan’s first hydrogen energy pipeline are used as an example. First ten buildings of five types are selected as the research objectives. Subsequently two comparative system models of a regional distributed hydrogen energy system (RDHES) and an RDES were established. Then by studying the optimal RDHES and RDES configuration and combining the prediction of future downward trends of fuel cell (FC) costs and energy carbon emissions the application effect of FC and hydrogen storage (HS) technologies on the demand side was analyzed. Finally the adaptability of the demand-side hydrogen energy system was studied by analyzing the load characteristics of different types of buildings. The results show that when the FC price is reduced to 1.5 times that of the internal combustion engine (ICE) the existing carbon tax system can sufficiently support the RDHES in gaining economic advantages in some regions. Notably when the carbon emissions of the urban energy system are reduced the RDHES demonstrates stronger anti-risk ability and has greater suitability for promotion in museums and shopping malls. The conclusions obtained in this study provide quantitative support for hydrogen energy promotion policies on the regional demand side and serve as a theoretical reference for the design and adaptability research of RDHESs.

Current technological improvements are yet to put the world on track to net-zero which will require the uptake of transformative low-carbon innovations to supplement mitigation efforts. However the role of such innovations is not yet fully understood; some of these ‘miracles’ are considered indispensable to Paris Agreement-compliant mitigation but their limitations availability and potential remain a source of debate. We evaluate such potentially game-changing innovations from the experts’ perspective aiming to support the design of realistic decarbonisation scenarios and better-informed net-zero policy strategies. In a worldwide survey 260 climate and energy experts assessed transformative innovations against their mitigation potential at-scale availability and/or widescale adoption and risk of delayed diffusion. Hierarchical clustering and multi-criteria decision-making revealed differences in perceptions of core technological innovations with next generation energy storage alternative building materials iron-ore electrolysis and hydrogen in steelmaking emerging as top priorities. Instead technologies highly represented in well-below-2◦C scenarios seemingly feature considerable and impactful delays hinting at the need to re-evaluate their role in future pathways. Experts’ assessments appear to converge more on the potential role of other disruptive innovations including lifestyle shifts and alternative economic models indicating the importance of scenarios including non-technological and demand-side innovations. To provide insights for expert elicitation processes we finally note caveats related to the level of representativeness among the 260 engaged experts the level of their expertise that may have varied across the examined innovations and the potential for subjective interpretation to which the employed linguistic scales may be prone to.

The rising demand for energy and the aim of moving away from fossil fuels and to low-carbon power have led many countries to move to alternative sources including solar energy wind geothermal energy biomass and hydrogen. Hydrogen is often considered a “missing link” in guaranteeing the energy transition providing storage and covering the volatility and intermittency of renewable energy generation. However due to potential injustice with regard to the distribution of risks benefits and costs (i.e. in regard to competing for land use) the large-scale deployment of hydrogen is a contested policy issue. This paper draws from a historical analysis of past energy projects to contribute to a more informed policy-making process toward a more just transition to the hydrogen economy. We perform a systematic literature review to identify relevant conflict factors that can influence the outcome of hydrogen energy transition projects in selected Economic Community of West African States countries namely Nigeria and Mali. To better address potential challenges policymakers must not only facilitate technology development access and market structures for hydrogen energy policies but also focus on energy access to affected communities. Further research should monitor hydrogen implementation with a special focus on societal impacts in producing countries.

Green hydrogen has become the key to social low-carbon transformation and is fully linked to zero carbon emissions. The carbon emissions trading market is a policy tool used to control carbon emissions using a market-oriented mechanism. Building a modular carbon trading center for the hydrogen energy industry would greatly promote the meeting of climate targets. Based on this a “green hydrogen market—national carbon trading market–electricity market” coupling mechanism is designed. Then the “green hydrogen market—national carbon trading market–electricity market” mechanism is modeled and simulated using system dynamics. The results are as follows: First coupling between the green hydrogen market carbon trading market and electricity market can be realized through green hydrogen certification and carbon quota trading. It is found that the coupling model is feasible through simulation. Second simulation of the basic scenario finds that multiple-market coupling can stimulate an increase in carbon price the control of thermal power generation and an increase in green hydrogen production. Finally the proportion of the green hydrogen certification the elimination mechanism of outdated units and the quota auction mechanism will help to form a carbon pricing mechanism. This study enriches the green hydrogen trading model and establishes a multiple-market linkage mechanism.

Slovak Republic is a member of the European Union and is a part of the European energy market. Although Slovakia contributes only marginally to global emissions there is an effort to meet obligations from the Paris climate agreement to reduce greenhouse gases. As in many countries power industry emissions dominate Slovakia’s emissions output but are partly affected and lowered by the share of nuclear energy. The transition from fossil fuels to renewables is supported by the government and practical steps have been taken to promote the wide use of renewable resources such as biomass or solar energy. Another step in this transition process is the support of new technologies that use hydrogen as the primary energy source. The European Union widely supports this effort and is looking for possible sources for hydrogen generation. One of the main renewable resources is hydropower which is already used in the Slovak Republic. This article presents the current situation of the energy market in Slovakia and possible developments for future hydrogen generation.

Expanding decarbonization efforts beyond the power sector are contingent on cost-effective production of energy carriers like H2 with near-zero life-cycle carbon emissions. Here we assess the levelized cost of continuous H2 supply (95% availability) at industrial-scale quantities (100 tonnes/day) in 2030 from integrating commodity technologies for solar photovoltaics electrolysis and energy storage. Our approach relies on modeling the least-cost plant design and operation that optimize component sizes while adhering to hourly solar availability production requirements and component inter-temporal operating constraints. We apply the model to study H2 production costs spanning the continental United States and through extensive sensitivity analysis explore system configurations that can achieve $2.5/kg levelized costs or less for a range of plausible 2030 technology projections at high-irradiance locations. Notably we identify potential sites and system configurations where PV-electrolytic H2 could substitute natural gas-derived H2 at avoided CO2 costs (%$120/ton) similar to the cost of deploying carbon capture and sequestration.

The liquid hydrogen demand particularly driven by clean energy applications will rise in the near future. As industrial large scale liquefiers will play a major role within the hydrogen supply chain production capacity will have to increase by a multiple of today’s typical sizes. The main goal is to reduce the total cost of ownership for these plants by increasing energy efficiency with innovative and simple process designs optimized in capital expenditure. New concepts must ensure a manageable plant complexity and flexible operability. In the phase of process development and selection a dimensioning of key equipment for large scale liquefiers such as turbines and compressors as well as heat exchangers must be performed iteratively to ensure technological feasibility and maturity. Further critical aspects related to hydrogen liquefaction e.g. fluid properties ortho-para hydrogen conversion and coldbox configuration must be analysed in detail. This paper provides an overview on the approach challenges and preliminary results in the development of efficient as well as economically viable concepts for large-scale hydrogen liquefaction.

The combination of offshore wind and green hydrogen provides major opportunities for job creation economic growth and regional regeneration as well as attracting inward investment alongside delivering the emission reductions needed to achieve climate neutrality. In order to get to Net Zero emissions in 2050 the UK is likely to need a minimum of 75GW of offshore wind (OSW) and modelling of the energy system indicates that hydrogen will play a major role in integrating the high levels of OSW on the electricity grid.<br/><br/>Some of the key findings from report are listed below:<br/><br/>The UK has vast resources of offshore wind with the potential for over 600GW in UK waters and potentially up to 1000GW. This is well above the he figure of 75-100GW likely to be needed for UK electricity generation by 2050.<br/>The universities in the UK provide the underpinning science and engineering for electrolysers fuel cells and hydrogen and are home to world-leading capability in these areas.<br/>In order to achieve cost reduction and growing a significant manufacturing and export industry it will be crucial to develop green hydrogen in the next 5 years<br/>By 2050 green hydrogen can be cheaper than blue hydrogen. With accelerated deployment green hydrogen costs can be competitive with blue hydrogen by the eary 2030s.<br/>The combination of additional OSW deployment and electrolyser manufacture alone could generate over 120000 new jobs. These are are expected to be based mainly in manufacturing OSW-related activity shipping and mobility<br/>By 2050 it is estimated that the cumulative gross value added (GVA) from supply of electrolysers and additional OSW farm could be up to £320bn where the majority will come from exports of electrolysers to overseas markets.<br/>The report also calls for immediate government intervention and a new national strategy to support the creation of supply and demand in the new industry.<br/><br/>This study was jointly supported by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) and ORE Catapult.

ISSUES MONITOR 2020: DECODING NEW SIGNALS OF CHANGE

The annual World Energy Issues Monitor provides unique insight into what energy policymakers CEOs and leading experts identify as Critical Uncertainties and Action Priorities. New this year the Issues Monitor also provides readers with the views of the individual customer detailing their perceptions of their role in the overall energy system. The Issues Monitor report includes a global issues map 58 country maps and six regional maps as well as perspectives from Future Energy Leaders (FEL) and energy innovators.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

The 2020 global map incorporates all survey responses representing the views of over 3000 energy leaders from 104 countries. In this era of transition defined by decentralisation digitalisation and decarbonisation energy leaders must pay attention to many different signals of change and distinguish key issues from the noise. The Issues Monitor identifies shifting patterns of connected issues shaping energy transitions.

A NEW PULSE

The focus for the 2010s was about trying to automate and upgrade the energy system and set targets to move the energy transition forward. Digitalisation accelerated the transition of all sectors towards a more customer-centric environment. New policies and regulations were introduced to facilitate this transition and empower consumers. As a result the 2020s may very well be about realising those targets through a transition from activism to action.

TREND TRACKING: CCS

In comparing response from the Oil & Gas sector in 2015 with 2019 we found that almost half of respondents identified Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) as a high impact issue in 2019 up from about a third in 2015. CCS is increasingly being viewed as an essential option for continued hydrocarbon use although governmental support is needed to enable scalability and cost effectiveness.

A DIFFERENCE IN OPINION: NUCLEAR

Opinions remain polarised but in many European countries nuclear power is increasingly recognised as a carbon-free energy source and potentially an integral part of the future energy mix. In December 2019 the European Commission set a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. There is qualified support among energy leaders to include nuclear energy to help create a carbon neutral continent and enable a just energy transition.

Study setting out a vision and plan for a multi-modal hydrogen transport hub within the UK. The study considers the:

• size of operational trials
• quantity of green hydrogen required
• research and development facilities which will support a living lab
• green hydrogen infrastructure required including:
• production
• storage
• distribution
• The study uses Tees Valley as an example region although the blueprint may be applied to other areas.

This report was independently produced on behalf of the Department for Transport by Mott Macdonald.

The Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) and the Birmingham Energy Institute have launched a policy commission to examine the state of play barriers challenges and opportunities for Energy from Waste (EfW) to form part of the regional energy circular economy in the Midlands. This policy commission explores the case for regional investment whilst helping shape the regional local government and industry thinking surrounding critical issues such as fuel poverty and poor air quality.

The Challenge

Tackling climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. To follow the path for limiting global warming below 2^ᵒC set out in the 2015 Paris agreement requires significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The UK has committed to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 requiring action at a local regional and national level to transition to a zero carbon economy.

To decarbonise and decentralise the UK’s energy system we must implement technologies that provide energy supply solutions across the UK.

In the Midlands many industrial sites are unable to access supply of affordable clean and reliable energy to meet their demands.

Energy from Waste (EfW) could offer a solution to the Midlands based industrial sites. EfW sites provide affordable secure energy supply solutions that form part of a developing circular economy. EfW reduces our reliance on landfills and obtains the maximum value from our waste streams. There are a number of merging technologies that could potentially play an important role which treats waste as a resource properly integrated into an energy and transport system and fully respects the potential of linking in the circular economy.

Investment into EfW infrastructure in the region could lead to job creation and economic growth and could help provide inward investment needed to redevelop old industrial sites and retiring power stations. However for EfW to be part of a net-zero energy system (either in transition or long-term) technologies and processes are needed that reduce the current carbon emissions burden.

EfW could play a significant role in the net zero carbon transition in the Midlands supplying heat power and green fuels and solve other problems - the region has some of the highest levels of energy/fuel poverty and poor air quality in the UK.  The policy commission will help shape the regional local government and industry thinking surrounding this important topic.

Report Recommendations

Recovery Resource Cluster

The EfW policy commission proposes three major areas where it believes that government investment would be highly beneficial

• Building a network of local and regional Resource Recovery Clusters
• Creating a National Centre for the Circular Economy
• Launching an R&D Grand Challenge to develop small-scale circular carbon capture technologies.

The Resource Recovery Clusters (RRC) will be developed on post-industrial sites which could produce significant environmental economic and regeneration benefits. The RRCs combine a spread of EfW and recycling technologies with businesses that can consume their cheap electricity heat fuels CO₂ and material outputs.

The National Centre for the Circular Economy would analyse material flows throughout the economy down to regional and local levels and develop deep expertise in recycling and EfW technologies. The CCE would also provide expert guidance and support for local authorities as they develop local or regional strategies and planning frameworks.

The R&D Grand Challenge aims to make big advances in small-scale carbon capture technologies in order to turn 100% of CO₂ produced through the process of converting waste to energy into useful products. This is very important for areas such as the Midlands which are remoted from depleted oil and gas reservoirs.

This White Paper has been commissioned by the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell (H2FC) SUPERGEN Hub to examine the roles and potential benefits of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for heat provision in future low-carbon energy systems. The H2FC SUPERGEN Hub is an inclusive network encompassing the entire UK hydrogen and fuel cells research community with around 100 UK-based academics supported by key stakeholders from industry and government. It is funded by the UK EPSRC research council as part of the RCUK Energy Programme. This paper is the first of four that will be published over the lifetime of the Hub with the others examining: (i) low-carbon energy systems (including balancing renewable intermittency); (ii) low-carbon transport systems; and (iii) the provision of secure and affordable energy supplies for the future

• Hydrogen and fuel cells are part of the cost-optimal heating technology portfolio in long-term UK energy system scenarios.
• Fuel cell CHP is already being deployed commercially around the world.
• Hydrogen can be a zero-carbon alternative to natural gas. Most technologies that use natural gas can be adapted to use hydrogen and still provide the same level of service.
• Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies avoid some of the disadvantages of other low-carbon heating technologies.

Scaling up renewables to meet the 1.5ºC climate goal

As global economies aim to become carbon neutral competitive hydrogen produced with renewables has emerged as a key component of the energy mix. Falling renewable power costs and improving electrolyser technologies could make ""green"" hydrogen cost competitive by 2030 this report finds.

Green hydrogen can help to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in energy-intensive hard-to-decarbonise sectors like steel chemicals long-haul transport shipping and aviation. But production costs must be cut to make it economical for countries worldwide. Green hydrogen currently costs between two and three times more than ""blue"" hydrogen which is produced using fossil fuels in combination with carbon capture and storage (CCS).

This report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) outlines strategies to reduce electrolyser costs through continuous innovation performance improvements and upscaling from megawatt (MW) to multi-gigawatt (GW) levels.

Among the findings:

• Electrolyser design and construction: Increased module size and innovation with increased stack manufacturing have significant impacts on cost. Increasing plant size from 1 MW (typical in 2020) to 20 MW could reduce costs by over a third. Optimal system designs maximise efficiency and flexibility.
• Economies of scale: Increasing stack production with automated processes in gigawatt-scale manufacturing facilities can achieve a step-change cost reduction. Procurement of materials: Scarcity of materials can impede electrolyser cost reduction and scale-up.
• Efficiency and flexibility in operations: Power supply incurs large efficiency losses at low load limiting system flexibility from an economic perspective.
• Industrial applications: Design and operation of electrolysis systems can be optimised for specific applications in different industries. Learning rates: Based on historic cost declines for solar photovoltaics (PV) the learning rates for fuel cells and electrolysers – whereby costs fall as capacity expands – could reach values between 16% and 21%.
• Ambitious climate mitigation: An ambitious energy transition aligned with key international climate goals would drive rapid cost reduction for green hydrogen. The trajectory needed to limit global warming at 1.5oC could make electrolysers an estimated 40% cheaper by 2030.

As the UK’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases the supply of domestic industrial and commercial heat must be decarbonised if the UK is to meet its climate change targets.<br/><br/>This report publishes the outcomes from Phase 1 of the Energy Technologies Institute’s Smart Systems and Heat programme highlighting that for the UK to transition to a low carbon heating system it must understand consumer needs and behaviours while connecting this with the development and integration of technologies and new business models.<br/><br/>Written by the ETI with support from the Energy Systems Catapult this report tackles three interconnected areas: heating needs and controls within the home; heating infrastructure and building retrofit at a local level; and the operation and governance of the whole system.<br/><br/>The research also shows that as part of a low carbon heating system upgrade advanced controls are critical to performance sizing and operating costs enabling smaller appliances and lower peak electricity demands and maximising the efficiency of existing infrastructure. With significant fabric retrofits potentially required in around 10 million of the existing 28 million dwellings in the UK housing stock the report recommends that building new homes to be both very efficient and “low carbon ready” is a low regret decision which should be progressed with some urgency.

Achieving the UK's net zero target by 2050 will be a challenge. Hydrogen can make a substantial contribution but it needs investment and policy support to establish demand increase the scale of deployment and reduce costs. The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution confirms the government’s commitment to drive the growth of low carbon hydrogen in the UK through a range of measures. This includes publishing its hydrogen strategy and setting out revenue mechanisms to attract private investment as well as allocating further support for hydrogen production and hydrogen applications in heating.

We have created a bespoke model to help understand the cost of hydrogen in the UK across the value chain under different pathways. Our analysis highlights areas for cost reduction and identifies factors that could make hydrogen more attractive to investors.

You can read the full report on the Deloitte website at this link

Based on data collection carried out between October and December 2020 and the testing of emerging findings with the Council’s regional communities during a series of digital workshops held during February 2021 the report has shown

• Energy leaders’ perceptions of areas of risk opportunity and priorities for action have radically changed over the last 12 months. While economic turbulence stemming from the ongoing reverberations of COVID-19 is the biggest area of uncertainty with uncertainty around economic trends increasing by a third over the previous year there is also a growing focus on the social agenda associated with a faster paced energy transition.

 

• There is an increased awareness of the societal and human impact of both recovery and the wider energy transition. The issue of energy affordability has rapidly risen up the industry’s priority list with its impact and uncertainty perceived 20% larger than a year ago. Energy affordability affects society across all geographies ranging from city dwellers in developed countries to the rural poor in developing ones.

 

• The emergence of a new generation of digital energy services and energy entrepreneurs. Increasingly agile disruptive technologies have taken advantage of the social upheaval to gain market share at the expense of supply-centric energy solutions. There is a growing focus on customer-centric demand-driven solutions and fast changing patterns of global and local demand.

The Hydrogen Taskforce welcomes the opportunity to submit evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into Hydrogen. It is the Taskforce’s view that:

• Due to its various applications hydrogen is critical for the UK to reach net zero by 2050;
• The UK holds world-class advantages in hydrogen production distribution and application; and
• Other economies are moving ahead in the development of this sector and the UK must respond.

The Taskforce has defined a set of policy recommendations for Government which are designed to ensure that hydrogen can scale to meet the future demands of a net zero energy system:

• Development of a cross departmental UK Hydrogen Strategy within UK Government;
• Commit £1bn of capex funding over the next spending review period to hydrogen production storage and distribution projects;
• Develop a financial support scheme for the production of hydrogen in blending industry power and transport;
• Amend Gas Safety Management Regulations (GSMR) to enable hydrogen blending and take the next steps towards 100% hydrogen heating through supporting public trials and mandating 100% hydrogen-ready boilers by 2025; and
• Commit to the support of 100 Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS) by 2025 to support the roll-out of hydrogen transport.

You can download the whole document from the Hydrogen Taskforce website here 

As the world strives to cut carbon emissions electric power from renewables has emerged as a vital energy source. Yet transport and industry will still require combustible fuels for many purposes. Such needs could be met with hydrogen which itself can be produced using renewable power.



Hydrogen provides high-grade heat helping to meet a range of energy needs that would be difficult to address through direct electrification. This could make hydrogen the missing link in the transformation of the global energy system.  



Key sectors for renewable-based hydrogen uptake include:  

• Industry where it could replace fossil-based feedstocks including natural gas in high-emission applications.
• Buildings and power where it could be mixed with natural gas or combined with industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to produce syngas.
• Transport where it can provide low-carbon mobility through fuel-cell electric vehicles.  

Electrolysers – which split hydrogen and oxygen – can make power systems more flexible helping to integrate high shares of variable renewables. Power consumption for electrolysis can be adjusted to follow actual solar and wind output while producing the hydrogen needed for transport industry or injection into the gas grid.  



In the long run hydrogen could become a key element in 100% renewable energy systems. With technologies maturing actual scale-up should yield major cost reductions. The right policy and regulatory framework however remains crucial to stimulate private investment in in hydrogen production in the first place.

A method of risk identification is developed by comparing existing and advanced technologies from the viewpoint of comprehensive social risk. First to analyze these values from a multifaceted perspective we constructed a questionnaire based on 24 individual values and 26 infrastructural values determined in a previous study. Seven engineering experts and six social science experts were then asked to complete the questionnaire to compare and analyze a hydrogen energy system (HES) and a gasoline energy system (GES). Finally the responses were weighted using the analytic hierarchy process. Three important points were identified and focused upon: the distinct disadvantages of the HES compared to the GES judgments that were divided between experts in the engineering and social sciences fields and judgments that were divided among experts in the same field. These are important risks that should be evaluated when making decisions related to the implementation of advanced science and technology.

<br/>The decarbonisation of heating represents a transformative challenge for many countries. The UK’s net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target requires the removal of fossil fuel combustion from heating in just three decades. A greater understanding of policy processes linked to system transformations is expected to be of value for understanding systemic change; how policy makers perceive policy issues can impact on policy change with knock-on effects for energy system change. This article builds on the literature considering policy maker perceptions and focuses on the issue of UK heat policy. Using qualitative analysis we show that policy makers perceive heat decarbonisation as disruptive technological pathways are seen as deeply uncertain and heat decarbonisation appears to offer policy makers little ‘up-side’. Perceptions are bounded by uncertainty affected by concerns over negative impacts influenced by external influences and relate to ideas of continuity. Further research and evidence on optimal heat decarbonisation and an adaptive approach to governance could support policy makers to deliver policy commensurate with heat decarbonisation. However even with reduced uncertainty and more flexible governance the perceptions of disruption to consumers mean that transformative heat policy may remain unpopular for policy makers potentially putting greenhouse mitigation targets at risk of being missed.

This week on the show the team take a pause to review the current state of hydrogen and fuel cell affairs globally whilst taking time to go over all the excellent questions that our listeners have kindly shared with us over the last few months. We cover carbon capture the green new deal synthetic fuels hydrogenspiders green hydrogen in Australia and many more themes this week so don’t miss this episode!

The podcast can be found on their website

Fully decarbonizing global industry is essential to achieving climate stabilization and reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050–2070 is necessary to limit global warming to 2 °C. This paper assembles and evaluates technical and policy interventions both on the supply side and on the demand side. It identifies measures that employed together can achieve net zero industrial emissions in the required timeframe. Key supply-side technologies include energy efficiency (especially at the system level) carbon capture electrification and zero-carbon hydrogen as a heat source and chemical feedstock. There are also promising technologies specific to each of the three top-emitting industries: cement iron & steel and chemicals & plastics. These include cement admixtures and alternative chemistries several technological routes for zero-carbon steelmaking and novel chemical catalysts and separation technologies. Crucial demand-side approaches include material-efficient design reductions in material waste substituting low-carbon for high-carbon materials and circular economy interventions (such as improving product longevity reusability ease of refurbishment and recyclability). Strategic well-designed policy can accelerate innovation and provide incentives for technology deployment. High-value policies include carbon pricing with border adjustments or other price signals; robust government support for research development and deployment; and energy efficiency or emissions standards. These core policies should be supported by labeling and government procurement of low-carbon products data collection and disclosure requirements and recycling incentives. In implementing these policies care must be taken to ensure a just transition for displaced workers and affected communities. Similarly decarbonization must complement the human and economic development of low- and middle-income countries.

This week on the show the team catch up with Alena Fargere Principal at SWEN Capital Partners and a former special advisor to the World Energy Council on Hydrogen projects. As one of the few current project finance funds in Europe with a green gas mandate and a dedicated allocation for investing in hydrogen project finance SWEN Capital Partners provide an invaluable perspective on the challenges and opportunities for hydrogen project investment in Europe and the synergies that exist from Green Gas funds that support biogas and hydrogen opportunities. On the show our hosts discuss the rationale for this fund the profile of projects SWEN are considering and Alena’s broader perspective on the hydrogen market. All this and many more themes this week so don’t miss this episode!

The podcast can be found on their website

This article attempts to model interdependencies between socio-economic energy and environmental factors with selected data characterizing the development of the hydrogen economy. The study applies Spearman’s correlation and a linear regression model to estimate the influence of gross domestic product population final energy consumption renewable energy and CO2 emission on chosen hydrogen indicators—production patents energy technology research development and demonstration budgets. The study was conducted in nine countries selected for their actions towards a hydrogen economy based on analyses of national strategies policies research and development programs and roadmaps. The results confirm the statistically significant impact of the chosen indicators which are the drivers for the development of the hydrogen economy from 2008 to 2018. Moreover the empirical results show that different characteristics in each country contribute to the development of the hydrogen economy vision

The heat and buildings strategy sets out the government’s plan to significantly cut carbon emissions from the UK’s 30 million homes and workplaces in a simple low-cost and green way whilst ensuring this remains affordable and fair for households across the country. Like the transition to electric vehicles this will be a gradual transition which will start by incentivizing consumers and driving down costs.<br/>There are about 30 million buildings in the UK. Heating these buildings contributes to almost a quarter of all UK emissions. Addressing the carbon emissions produced in heating and powering our homes workplaces and public buildings can not only save money on energy bills and improve lives but can support up to 240000 skilled green jobs by 2035 boosting the economic recovery levelling up across the country and ensuring we build back better.<br/>The heat and buildings strategy builds on the commitments made in Clean growth: transforming heating our Energy white paper and the Prime Minister’s 10 point plan. This strategy aims to provide a clear direction of travel for the 2020s set out the strategic decisions that need to be taken this decade and demonstrate how we plan to meet our carbon targets and remain on track for net zero by 2050.