Hydrogen Import and Export: Unlocking the UK's Hydrogen Trade Potential

Hydrogen trade is an emerging area of interest for hydrogen developers, end-users, traders and governments around the world. It can enhance system flexibility, energy security and clean growth, enabling decarbonisation at a lower cost and faster pace. Thanks to its competitive advantage in existing ports, terminals and interconnectors, the UK is well placed to be the European trade hub for hydrogen and its carriers. With its access to world leading offshore wind generation capacity and geological storage, the UK will almost certainly be a net exporter of hydrogen in the future, delivering economic value and creating jobs. However, hydrogen trade will not be a one-way process. In order to best position the UK as a future hydrogen trade hub, there could be value in investing in small scale hydrogen imports and exports to ‘wet the pipes’ and stimulate investment in infrastructure. Imports could also enhance our energy security as a part of a diverse energy mix and support demand whilst domestic production gets up to speed. Both imports and exports will be key to build supply chains and skills and enhance clean growth. With major European economies having established their hydrogen trade strategy, there is growing uncertainty as to how the United Kingdom will capitalise on its competitive advantage and position itself in the global hydrogen market. This is the first qualitative report released by Hydrogen UK’s Import and Export Taskforce. This report aims to provide a high-level overview of Hydrogen UK’s vision and recommendations, with subsequent reports exploring this topic in further detail.
This report can be found on Hydrogen UK's website.