Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the value for money of public funding for (a) commercial vehicle charging and (b) hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is supporting the uptake of zero emission commercial vehicles, and their supporting charging and fuelling infrastructure, through initiatives such as the Plug-In Truck and Van Grants, which are reducing upfront costs for heavy goods vehicles and vans, and the £30 million Depot Charging Scheme and the up to £200 million Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID). The Department continually monitors and reviews grants to optimise delivery and value for money.
Asked by: Sally Jameson (Labour (Co-op) - Doncaster Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the hydrogen technology manufacturing sector on (a) investment to the UK and (b) the growth in good jobs.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The hydrogen sector is nascent but is expected to grow significantly; the global hydrogen market could exceed $1 trillion by 2050, with the UK well positioned to capture a substantial share.
We intend to publish a revised Hydrogen Strategy which will highlight the opportunities available to UK hydrogen technology manufacturers and set out plans to optimise the job creation and economic benefits delivered by the UK hydrogen economy.
We will continue to engage with stakeholders across the hydrogen value chain; working together with industry and unions to identify actions that support the skills and workforce needs of the UK’s future low carbon hydrogen economy.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the strength of UK supply chains for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, and what plans they have to reduce the UK’s reliance on overseas imports of hydrogen technologies for taxpayer-funded hydrogen projects.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK is optimally positioned to develop a thriving hydrogen economy, with many UK companies at the forefront of hydrogen technology advancement.
The Government announced a public finance offer for clean energy industries to crowd private investment into sustainable UK supply chains. This includes: a £1bn Clean Energy supply chain fund; £5.8bn for the National Wealth Fund to invest across this Parliament in clean industries including low-carbon hydrogen; and a £4bn British Business Bank Industrial Strategy Growth Capital initiative.
We will also work with projects to deliver events connecting developers and suppliers.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the export potential of the UK hydrogen and fuel cell technology sector by 2030, and what steps they are taking to support UK access into international markets.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
UK companies are at the forefront of the clean energy transition, and are already exporting their innovative technologies and world-renowned services to projects across the globe.
We are working hard to ensure UK hydrogen and fuel cell companies continue to capitalise on the opportunities of the global clean energy transition, and to access high value opportunities in international markets.
This includes working to remove trade barriers, as well as championing our world-leading hydrogen companies overseas.
We are also working with international governments to unlock opportunities in established and emerging markets, establishing international partnerships to support UK commercial collaborations.
Asked by: Sally Jameson (Labour (Co-op) - Doncaster Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support the hydrogen technology manufacturing sector to export (a) goods and (b) services.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As a frontier Industrial Strategy sector, the government has committed targeted support to boost exports of hydrogen sector goods and services by showcasing UK capabilities through our global network, providing greater access to international supply chains and - as outlined in the Trade Strategy - by expanding clean energy sector agreements, like the UK-Germany Hydrogen Partnership.
To support these opportunities, the UK's export credit agency, UK Export Finance aims to deliver £10bn in clean growth financing by 2029, alongside options to support overseas sales, including loan guarantees for foreign buyers, and working capital, insurance and bond support products to assist UK suppliers.
Asked by: Sally Jameson (Labour (Co-op) - Doncaster Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to encourage investment into the hydrogen technology manufacturing sector.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Under the Industrial Strategy's Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan the Government announced a public finance offer to crowd private investment into clean energy industries, including the UK's hydrogen economy. This includes: a £1bn Clean Energy supply chain fund; £5.8bn for the National Wealth Fund to invest across this Parliament in clean industries including low-carbon hydrogen; and a £4bn British Business Bank Industrial Strategy Growth Capital scale and start up financing package.
My officials have been working closely with the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero to showcase these opportunities for investment alongside UK world-class capability across the hydrogen sector.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the cost of (a) electric and (b) hydrogen HGVs for small and medium-sized enterprises since July 2024; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the (i) 2035 and (ii) 2040 end-of-sale dates for new diesel HGVs on (A) logistics costs and (B) delivery prices.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
More needs to be done to ensure that UK haulage companies can switch to zero emission HGVs (battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell). This is particularly true as most UK haulage companies are SMEs and operate on small profit margins. As more zero emission HGVs are deployed, the costs of these HGVs should begin to fall due to economies of scale in manufacturing, which when combined with running and maintenance savings, should reduce the total cost of ownership and support a second-hand market.
We are supporting UK haulage companies while seeking to minimise the impact of the transition on costs and delivery prices through programmes such as the Plug in Truck Grant, the £30m Depot Charging Scheme and the up to £200m Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator.
We will shortly be consulting on options for the end of sales dates for new non-zero emission HGVs and will continue to support UK hauliers with appropriate incentives and clear regulatory approach.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK’s competitive advantage in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, compared to European counterparts.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK is optimally positioned to support a thriving hydrogen economy with UK companies at the forefront of hydrogen technology development.
Our approach to hydrogen balances comprehensive funding support with long-term stability, which continues to unlock significant investment.
The EU, and individual EU member states, are important partners for our shared ambitions to scale up our hydrogen sectors quickly and create opportunities for UK companies. And, as the UK Trade Strategy makes clear, supporting our businesses to grow through trade is key to future economic growth.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the consultation on expanding the Clean Industry Bonus to hydrogen.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As set out in the Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, we are considering expanding the Clean Industry Bonus to hydrogen and will consult on any proposals. We are currently developing a new Hydrogen Strategy and will provide an update on this in due course.
In addition to considering the Clean Industry Bonus, we have a strong offer for domestic manufacturing including support from our Public Finance Institutions and deployment certainty through Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HARs). Additionally, we welcome the industry-led voluntary ambition of 50% UK local content for hydrogen across the value chain from 2030.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate on the development of non-electric technologies to power motor cars.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate sets annual targets for the proportion of new zero emission cars and vans sold in the UK. This regulation does not require that new zero emission vehicles be electric, only that they emit no CO2 from the tailpipe. The ZEV Mandate therefore considers any vehicles that meet that criteria to be zero emission, including, for example, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Currently, battery electric is the leading ZEV technology.