Could Hydrogen Be The Fuel For 'Levelling Up'?

With UK Hydrogen Week getting started on Monday, M&C Reacts will have a particular focus on hydrogen innovation over the next couple of weeks.

One of the materials promoted as part of the week of events has been the Hydrogen Energy Association's UK Hydrogen Project Map, which showcases hydrogen initiatives across the country.

A striking feature of the map is the visible presence of key clusters of activity across the UK. Teesside, Humberside, Aberdeen, South Wales, and the North West in particular are easily identifiable as hydrogen hot-spots.

I'm not sure if we ever really reached a consensus about what "levelling up" does - or should - mean, or how best to achieve it. But I think the evidence from this map would suggest that British hydrogen innovation ticks at least some of the boxes: opportunities spread throughout the country, growing centres of excellence, new technologies taking root in traditional industrial heartlands.