The plans, announced today [17 August], will see the government working with industries to replace natural gas in homes with hydrogen, creating 9,000 jobs over the next decade, and with the potential to rise to 100,000 jobs by 2050.

Over the next decade, the government is aiming for hydrogen to drive the decarbonisation of pollution-heavy industries like chemicals, oil refineries and shipping.

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Today marks the start of the UK’s hydrogen revolution. This home-grown clean energy source has the potential to transform the way we power our lives and will be essential to tackling climate change and reaching net zero [emissions].

“With the potential to provide a third of the UK’s energy in the future, our strategy positions the UK as first in the global race to ramp up hydrogen technology and seize the thousands of jobs and private investment that come with it.”

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