National Grid is exploring the development of a UK hydrogen ‘backbone’, which aims to join together industrial clusters around the country, potentially creating a 2000km hydrogen network for the UK by around 2030.

Alongside this, the company is purchasing distributor WPD for £8bn and is considering the sale of its stake in the National Gas Grid.

The project is exploring a hydrogen backbone connecting the Grangemouth, Teesside and Humberside clusters, as well as linking up with Southampton, the North West and South Wales clusters.

Antony Green, hydrogen project director at National Grid, said: “The UK has shown clear ambition in the Prime Minister’s ten-point plan with two carbon capture and storage clusters planned for 2025 and a further two clusters by 2030. This backbone could bring resilience and security to support this strategy. By working closely with government and stakeholders in the UK and Europe, we’re confident we can collectively find the right solutions with hydrogen playing its role in accelerating net zero goals.”

As energy use shifts away from fossil fuels, the move to focus on electricity and hydrogen transmission is a bet on the future from the company.

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