UK risks falling behind on hydrogen gas network

Trade association calls for regulated asset base mechanism to support rollout of hydrogen pipelines

The UK must accelerate the creation of a regulatory framework for hydrogen transportation and storage via gas networks, according to trade association Hydrogen UK. The government is consulting on a potential support scheme for hydrogen transportation and storage, which is likely to mimic the framework that exists for UK gas networks. Gas infrastructure is supported by a regulated asset base (RAB) model, which provides a fixed return during construction rather than operation. Hydrogen UK has come out in favour of this model for both growth and steady-state phases of infrastructure development. “However, RAB would have to be supplemented with an additional external funding mechanism due to the