HyDEX launches hydrogen roundtable series

Array of industries, including quarrying, to discuss pragmatic solutions for scaling UK hydrogen industry

HyDEX, a consortium comprised of seven leading Midlands-based university partners associated with the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA), has today announced the launch of its hydrogen roundtable series.

HyDEX will bring together voices from an array of industries, including quarrying and construction, aviation, road transport, and farming, convening representatives across the supply chain, investor, and regulatory landscape.

These will be the first post-election hydrogen roundtables and will offer a recommendation to the incoming government on how it can best support the UK’s hydrogen industry, which has great economic promise, yet remains still relatively in its infancy.

Each roundtable will serve to extract actionable, industry-informed insights and generate a consensus on the next steps needed to scale-up hydrogen infrastructure and technology. The culmination of these discussions will be distilled into a report, setting the stage for a strategic roadmap that envisions a robust hydrogen economy in the UK, with emphasis on the Midlands.

HyDEX is committed to propelling the UK to the forefront of the global hydrogen industry, ensuring economic growth, energy security, and decarbonization commitments are met. The roundtable series will tackle the complex challenges associated with the uptake of hydrogen in the UK and cement its role as a cornerstone in the UK’s energy transition.

Martin Freer, director of the Energy Research Accelerator, said: ‘Hydrogen presents a transformative opportunity for the UK and the Midlands, a region with a rich industrial heritage poised to become a green energy powerhouse. Overcoming barriers to adoption is not just essential; it’s a strategic, economic imperative.

‘By embracing hydrogen, we can catalyse economic growth, regionally and nationally, as well as drive innovation and decarbonize the heaviest of emitting industries. The Midlands can lead the UK’s transition to a sustainable energy future, but we must act swiftly and decisively to unlock hydrogen’s full potential.’