Mike Foster, chief executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), has today called upon the Prime Minister to stop buying Russian natural gas and convert the UK’s supply to hydrogen
Previously, the government had said that the UK’s conversion from natural gas to hydrogen would take place in 2026, but given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mr Foster calls for immediate action. He believes that this move away from Russian natural gas would send a clear message to Putin.
Proper investment in hydrogen could provide many benefits for the construction industry in the form of hydrogen construction equipment. Hydrogen construction equipment could include things like hydrogen powered engines designed by JCB; a hydrogen transport hub and even cranes powered by hydrogenated vegetable oil.
Boris Johnson: ‘A big punt’ on hydrogen
Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, had said the Government were ready to take “a big punt” on hydrogen – but Mr Foster insists it must happen as soon as possible to deter Putin and weaken his Russian natural gas stranglehold.
However, Mr Foster did welcome the comments made by the Prime Minister at Question Times last week – when asked about setting more ambitious targets for hydrogen production, Boris Johnson said, “That’s exactly what we should be doing.”
‘The only way to stop bullies like Putin… is to stop buying his gas’
Mr Foster commented: “The only way to stop bullies like Putin, using his natural gas sales to fund his military is to stop buying his gas. Bringing forward the announcement about converting the gas network to hydrogen is something the Prime Minister can do tomorrow.”
“Europe is waking up to a hydrogen future as a way of dealing with Putin’s terror. We should signal that is our intention too. British industry will respond positively to such news and it will be another nail in Putin’s gas stranglehold. British manufacturers are ready to respond, the UK’s world-leading gas networks are ready too. The Prime Minister just needs to get on with it.”
Becoming ‘energy independent’
“Green hydrogen is the long-term future the world is banking on. Its production is not limited to gas reserves under the feet of a select few countries, not all of them friendly, but its supply will come from countries with an abundance of wind or sun. The UK is one of those countries. Many friendly nations also have wind, sun or both.”
“We can become more energy independent and interdependent with green hydrogen, so the sooner we make the announcement to convert our gas networks, the better off we will be and the safer or world will be too.”
