Third GIUK Online Meeting of 2025

Hydrogen infrastructure

On Thursday 11th September 2025, some 15 members and guests, including a representative from the German Embassy, attended our third GIUK online meeting for members, chaired by our Chief Executive, Phil McClennon, to discuss the UK strategy for deployment of hydrogen infrastructure. 

Ms Konstanze Scharring, Executive Director, Government and External Affairs, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited opened the discussion with a detailed look into the plans for current and further deployment of hydrogen as a fuel source across the automotive industry sectors.  Ms Scharring highlighted a number of manufacturer initiatives taken in use of hydrogen in vehicle propulsion (through hydrogen combustion or fuel cells), and in relation to manufacturers efforts to decarbonize their operations through hydrogen as a manufacturing power source. From the brief it became clear that the sector was taking initiative but that  the role of hydrogen remained a ‘niche’, and something which would benefit from a wider supporting framework from government to move to the next level.

In the member discussion that followed, real life examples of the existing initiatives taken by member companies were shared, in development of their own hydrogen applications and technologies.

In those discussions it was noted that the feasibility of use of hydrogen as a power source for operational decarbonisation was very much dependent on the geographical location of operations, as current hydrogen infrastructure development plans were still only covered discrete parts of the UK. Despite these limitations, many members confirmed their interest in pursuing this option as part of their company’s operational decarbonisation efforts together with existing renewable energy sources.

From the discussion, the view was confirmed that there is the need for a cross sector, national strategy for Hydrogen proliferation, that government should develop to move things forward in this domain and give stakeholder companies the confidence to continue to invest further in the topic.

Our Executive President, Dr Bernd Atenstaedt will take this up with Government.