The Science and Technology Committee – comprising Members of Parliament from the various parties – recently received more than 70 ideas for new inquiries through its ‘My Science Inquiry’ Open Call, and selected nine for further consideration. These nine participated in a Dragons’ Den style pitch process on 1 February, from which ‘the role for hydrogen and fuel cells in a holistic energy system’ was selected as the subject of an Inquiry to be launched later this year.

‘We have been campaigning on the importance of hydrogen and fuel cells as innovative cross-sector solutions with a range of stakeholders, and are delighted that the role of hydrogen and fuel cells in a holistic energy system has been selected amongst numerous proposals for an Inquiry,’ says Amanda Lyne, chair of the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (UK HFCA).

‘This inquiry will give the UK hydrogen and fuel cell industry and others the opportunity to demonstrate the potential for these innovative solutions to decarbonise the heat, power and transport sectors in a cost-efficient way, and in parallel, will explore how the Government’s approach can be better coordinated to deliver optimal outcomes,’ she continues. ‘We look forward to working closely with the Committee and the Government on next steps.’

The UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (UK HFCA) is engaging with national policy makers and the political community to enhance the prospects for fuel cells and hydrogen in the UK, and working to accelerate the commercialisation of fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies.

Its members include the leading UK fuel cell and hydrogen companies, as well as organisations from the academic community and a range of other stakeholders with an interest in these clean energy solutions and the associated elements of the supply chain.