East of England Hydrogen Cluster Launches, While IAG Takes Shape

Hydrogen East has now launched the East of England Hydrogen Cluster and announced the first members of its new Industry-led Advisory Group.

Last year, Hydrogen East first unveiled a vision for a regional, distributed clean hydrogen cluster in the East of England that will pave the way for proactive development and improved infrastructure to be implemented, before then being further scaled as the demand for clean hydrogen grows.

This work has continued since and gathered pace, with the cluster vision being presented at the East Suffolk Hydrogen Conference and forming a key part of Hydrogen East’s Hydrogen Week activities. This saw a Hydrogen Cluster Round Table held, which helped to further shape the path forwards.

Now, taking to the stage at the East of England Energy Group’s (EEEGR) SNS Vision 2030 annual conference last week in Norwich, Hydrogen East has launched the cluster, which is supported by Hydrogen UK, the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (UKHFCA), Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (SHFCA), Freeport East, East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), Cambridge Cleantech, Water Resources East and the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.

During the SNS2023 conference panel session ‘Hydrogen Evolution in the East’, details were revealed on the Industry Advisory Group (IAG) – one of the key outcomes from the Cluster Round Table that was held earlier in the year.

The expectation is that the IAG will continue growing in the weeks and months ahead, with its early members including Cadent, National Gas Transmission, Turner & Townsend, Reynolds Logistics, Dron & Dickson, HydroGenus, Hanson, Aquaterra Energy, SaxonAir, Ryze Hydrogen, the Bacton Hydrogen Hub, and Opergy.

A key first action for the Cluster will be to secure a dedicated Hydrogen Cluster Manager who will have the responsibility for coordinating and delivering actions on behalf of the Cluster IAG. This will include a core work program and a regional hydrogen roadmap of new potential hydrogen projects, alongside organizing and delivering collaborative workshops and sessions representing the entire hydrogen value chain.

Anne Haase, Renewables Director at Aquaterra Energy, said: “Aquaterra Energy is absolutely delighted to support the East of England Hydrogen Cluster as a founding member. We firmly believe in the potential for the region to create a hydrogen vision that is locally, nationally, and internationally relevant. The East of England has several advantages that make it an ideal location for hydrogen development, including interconnectors to the European mainland, a growing appetite for cleaner fuels, and a strong background in offshore energy and skills development."

"Aquaterra Energy is playing a key role in decarbonizing the local economy by promoting sustainable energy in the region, collaborating with like-minded organizations, and utilizing their expertise in renewable hydrogen technology. The cluster will help accelerate the deployment of hydrogen, which is crucial to achieving a low-carbon future.”

Sally Brewis, Head of Regional Development at Cadent said: “The East of England is primed to play a major role in the industrial decarbonization revolution in the UK. We are thrilled to be a founding member of the Industrial Advisory Group of the East of England Hydrogen Cluster. We look forward to working together on the low carbon energy agenda, making the East of England a beacon for global investment, innovation and economic growth. Hydrogen offers one of the few options to reduce industrial carbon emissions and we see great value in working together to make this region a real focus of expertise in this growing sector.”

Andrew Etherington, Director CCUS & Hydrogen for Turner & Townsend. “We are absolutely committed to supporting the East of England Hydrogen Cluster and delighted to being a founding member of the IAG. Developing and delivering a regional plan which sees collaboration between academia, industry and government is critical and we will help to enable this. The East of England has a fantastic opportunity to take a leading role in the new industrial revolution, we will share our knowledge and experience from clean energy projects in the UK and globally to ensure the East of England delivers on its ambitions.”

Andy Holyland, Managing Director for Opergy Net Zero said. “The East of England is already a significant contributor to the UK’s low carbon energy provision and has all the component parts necessary to be a leader within the developing hydrogen sector. Recognizing the dispersed industrial load, the East of England Hydrogen Cluster will bring together organizations and stakeholder representative of the entire hydrogen value chain including skills to realize and maximize on the opportunities presented by hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives regionally, nationally and internationally.”