The report considers the full end-to-end nature of the hydrogen economy to ensure there is a common understanding of the economic opportunity it could represent by 2050.
Read moreA trusted consortium of industry, government and academia accelerating UK hydrogen technology and supply chains – turning UK innovation into a globally competitive hydrogen economy and a Net Zero powerhouse.
The Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) brings together leading organisations from industry, government and academia to create an investible, globally competitive hydrogen technology and services sector in the UK. Our vision is simple: UK technology powering the global hydrogen economy. Our mission is to anchor high-value jobs, boost resilience and drive decarbonisation by accelerating critical hydrogen technologies and supply chains.
HII focuses on building robust UK hydrogen supply chains, supporting innovative UK companies and activating investment to scale the hydrogen economy. For FY 2025/26, Energy Systems Catapult will lead dissemination activity to present project findings to senior government, industry executives, hydrogen specialists, innovators and SMEs via events, webinars, working groups and published blogs. The programme will also work directly with SMEs that engage with Energy Systems Catapult accelerator and SME support schemes.
HII was established with support from Innovate UK and an Industrial Advisory Board to accelerate a hydrogen-supported UK economy. Partners include the Catapult Network, Advanced Propulsion Centre, Aerospace Technology Institute, Net Zero Technology Centre and the National Physical Laboratory — collectively offering an expansive network and diverse expertise to gather data, highlight opportunities and promote collaboration across sectors.
HII unites partner capabilities, sector knowledge and industrial reach to produce comprehensive insights into hydrogen innovation opportunities. The Industrial Advisory Board — which includes organisations such as Airbus, BP, Cadent, GKN Aerospace, ITM Power, Johnson Matthey, Toyota and others — guides industry-led priorities. With industry input, HII published the Hydrogen Innovation Opportunity Reports (2023) and continues to work with funders and investors to secure finance for hydrogen innovation and supply-chain programmes. Leveraging partner capacity (over 5,000 employees and c.£1.5bn of capital assets), HII delivers cross-sector intelligence and targeted industry engagement to catalyse investment and innovation.
To maximise the UK’s share of domestic and international hydrogen markets and foster technology crossover, HII is focused on industry-led innovation across generation, distribution and use. We work with government and industry to:
Key barriers to the development of hydrogen in the UK energy system
Energy Systems Catapult and the University of Birmingham undertook a series of interviews and analysis towards the end of Q1 2023 to identify and collate barriers to using hydrogen in the UK energy system for Net Zero. In 2024, a further series of interviews were conducted.
Debt financing low carbon hydrogen projects in the UK
The question this report set out to answer is whether low carbon hydrogen projects can/are able to access debt financing. This report not only answers this question, but shares a series of recommendations to address the challenges faced by hydrogen projects.
Hydrogen salt caverns in the UK: Barriers to deployment
This study, supported by Energy Systems Catapult, ARUP and BGS used the latest literature and engagement with key stakeholders across the sector to understand the issues in detail. This has been summarised into this report highlighting seven barriers that contribute to inhibiting the development of hydrogen salt caverns.
Sectors and scenarios
A summary of sector needs for hydrogen and hydrogen technologies, globally and in the UK, up to 2050 and modelled UK scenarios.
What you need to know about hydrogen salt cavern storage – Frank Bridge and Dr. Daniel Curry
The UK targets 10 GW of low-carbon hydrogen by 2030 (at least half green) and potential demand over 100 TWh/yr by 2050; today’s ~30 TWh of gas storage will likely need replacing with hydrogen storage. The IUK-funded HII, with Arup and the BGS, is investigating barriers to developing salt-cavern hydrogen storage and where innovation or support could unlock that capacity.
Hydrogen innovation at the forefront of decarbonisation – Frank Bridge, Matt Joss
Hydrogen is a key tool for the UK to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, drive emissions reductions and grow a green economy. The Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) is investigating where hydrogen is most needed, the barriers to deployment, and how to build an inclusive, thriving hydrogen sector — summarising current work and future opportunities.
Flexible electrolysers and hydrogen storage could reduce future grid pressures – Dr Chris Harrison and Huw Thomas
As part of the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative, we have used Living Lab homes and the Whole Energy System Accelerator (WESA) to explore the potential benefits that co-located hydrogen generation and storage at small industrial sites can provide to electricity networks through the provision of flexibility services.
Modelling the hydrogen landscape – Daniel Murrant
Hydrogen is widely seen as a useful source of flexibility for a Net Zero system, but major uncertainties remain about how big its role will be, when it will scale, which technologies will dominate, and what specific uses it will serve. The IUK-funded HII SEED project aims to reduce those uncertainties by using evidence and analysis.
Challenges and Opportunities for hydrogen innovators – Daniela Montaño
Hydrogen is a versatile, abundant energy carrier that could reshape how we generate, store and use electricity. The UK government sees it as a strategic technology to help meet Net Zero by 2050, so it’s getting major attention from industry and policymakers.
Hydrogen Innovation Initiative partners
We equip energy leaders with the evidence, insights and innovations needed to deliver the future Net Zero energy system
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Find out more about how Energy Systems Catapult can help you and your teams