Comment

The future of Wales: planning for a hydrogen economy

Turley response to the Welsh Government consultation on developing the hydrogen energy sector in Wales

Realising the potential of hydrogen is an exciting and transformative opportunity for Wales. The recent allocation of funding from UK Research and Innovation, alongside the positive work being undertaken by the likes of the South Wales Industrial Cluster and its collaborators, is an important step in facilitating a hydrogen economy.

We are pleased to see Welsh Government engaging with industry, stakeholders and academic institutions on the future role that hydrogen can play.

We recently engaged in the Welsh Government consultation on developing the hydrogen energy sector in Wales. You can find our full consultation response below.

The document is a positive step in seeking to better understand the route to large scale hydrogen demand and supply in Wales. However, more needs to be done to bring forward an ambitious, targeted and collaborative approach to hydrogen and wider decarbonisation technologies across the region. This will be important in realising some of the ambitious timescales set by Welsh Government throughout the document. This includes the type of development projects proposed, and how planning permission is most efficiently achieved in line with national and local planning policy. Promoting the sustainable growth of hydrogen in the right locations will be critical.

If you would like to discuss opportunities relating to the hydrogen economy in Wales and the UK, or the wider role and implications for the planning and development industry, please get in touch with Jadine Havill, Gareth Barton and Owen Francis.

23 April 2021