David Smith, Chief Executive at Energy Networks Association which represents the UK and Ireland’s energy networks businesses said:
“The Prime Minister’s ambitious plan brings together the key elements that will help us to take effective climate action and deliver a green economic recovery. We not only welcome the plans to turbocharge the roll-out of electric vehicles, level-up offshore wind, and commit to a hydrogen bonanza, but look forward to delivering them - supporting skilled, green jobs and cutting the country's emissions at best value and least disruption to the public.”
Notes to editor
Energising a hydrogen economy
- ENA’s Gas Goes Green programme will deliver the world’s first zero-carbon gas grid, helping meet the UK’s net zero carbon emissions target. Bringing together the engineering expertise of Britain’s five gas network companies with the wider energy industry, policymakers, and academics. The programme will make the changes needed to move Britain's gas network infrastructure from delivering methane-based natural gas to zero carbon hydrogen and biomethane.
- Read more about how hydrogen blending will be an important part of kick-starting the growth of a world-leading hydrogen economy here in the UK.
Preparing the gas grid for hydrogen
- A programme of replacing old iron pipes with new plastic ones has already reduced emissions by more than a fifth (22.4%) since it began in 2014, the equivalent of taking 179,123 cars off the road.
- By 2032, if investment plans are approved by Ofgem, the energy regulator, emissions will further drop by more than half (55.6%), the equivalent to taking a further 347,310 cars off the road since 2020.
- In total, between 2014 and 2032 the programme will have invested £28bn in creating a hydrogen-ready gas grid in towns, villages and communities across the country.
- By 2032, the programme will have achieved a 66 percent reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions from the gas grid.
About us
Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the industry body representing the energy networks. Our members include every major electricity network operator in the UK. The electricity networks are at the heart of the energy transition. They directly employ more than 26,000 people in the UK, including 1,500 apprentices. They are spending and investing £33bn in our electricity grids over the coming years, to ensure safe, reliable and secure energy supplies for the millions of homes and businesses reliant on power every day.
Press contacts
You can contact ENA's press office by emailing press@energynetworks.org. For urgent or out-of-hours enquiries from journalists, please call 0204 599 7691.