A series of conversations with some of the key leaders and influencers from across the UK infrastructure sector, produced and hosted by journalist and commentator Antony Oliver.
Latest episode
The Infrastructure Podcast: Episode 111
Guest: Brett Ryan, Head of Policy and Analysis at Hydrogen UK
UK's hydrogen future
In today's podcast we focus on hydrogen – zero carbon fuel of the future or an exercise in wishful thinking?
That said, as the UK sharpens its focus on delivering a net zero future, hydrogen is increasingly taking centre stage in the national energy conversation.
Touted as one of the cleanest and most versatile fuels available, hydrogen holds significant promise for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry, construction, and long-haul transport.
It also offers a route to greater energy resilience and system flexibility – two critical ingredients in the UK’s evolving low-carbon economy.
But while the direction of travel is clear, the path to delivery is far from smooth. Despite a government ambition to scale hydrogen production to 10GW by 2030 – with at least half from green electrolytic hydrogen – progress has been slow. Today, only a fraction of this capacity has reached final investment decision, and fewer still are under construction.
However, the recent announcement of 27 shortlisted projects in the government’s second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) has been welcomed as a step forward in terms of putting in place the subsidies that might secure future production business models.
But, and there are always many buts… major questions still remain about how this fuel production might be scaled.
Can we develop the infrastructure, market frameworks, and demand signals needed to unlock investment? And crucially, where does hydrogen genuinely add value – rather than simply an expensive distraction on route to zero carbon?
Well to find out, I’m joined today by
Brett Ryan, Head of Policy and Analysis at Hydrogen UK, the industry’s leading trade body in the sector. He is the ideal person to chat through the commercial and policy challenges that are shaping the market, the opportunities that hydrogen presents for UK industry and innovation, and what needs to happen now to convert ambition into action.
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The power behind The Infrastructure Podcast
Antony Oliver Consulting
Editorial consultancy services for the infrastructure sector
Antony works with a range of clients across the infrastructure sector, helping to boost their communication and marketing strategies and delivery so as to stimulate discussion and action in the industry.
This work includes:
- editorial support and creation
- event organisation, preparation and delivery
- round table discussion hosting and workshop/team facilitation
- video and podcasting
He has spent the last 30 years working as a journalist and editor across the infrastructure sector. Having joined New Civil Engineer magazine in 1994, he edited the title for 14 years until 2013, expanding NCE from a traditional paper magazine to deliver live events and conferences and then embrace the expanding world of multi-media digital delivery.
In 2014 he left NCE to create and launch Infrastructure Intelligence, a new digital-first publication for the sector, and for two years led and developed this ground-breaking media brand for the Association for Engineering and Consultancy.
He is a chartered civil engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, having started his career with Owen Williams and Partners and Balfour Beatty. He is committed to driving change across the UK infrastructure sector and is a Trustee of the Built Environment Trust and a Director of the Building Centre in Store Street, London.
antony@antonyoliver.com
The next episode of The Infrastructure Podcast will be published on Monday 28th April 2025.
