Sussex: Hydrogen Revolution Sparks To Become Zero Carbon Economy

A hydrogen revolution has sparked into action across Sussex, in a bid to become a zero-carbon economy.

Local authorities, businesses and organisations from across the region and further across the county have formed a group called Hydrogen Sussex.

By pooling expertise and lobbying power, Hydrogen Sussex aims to position clean fuel as a mainstream energy carrier to help the drive to become a zero carbon economy.

Hydrogen Sussex grew out of the Greater Brighton Energy Plan which launched in 2020.

Its broad membership, led by the Greater Brighton Economic Board, has world-leading thinkers, engineers and enterprises, including councils, universities, a world leading engineering firm, airports, ports, buses, major consultancies, utilities companies, Coast-to-Capital LEP, and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Developing clean energy alternatives

Hydrogen Sussex will be well placed to support and stimulate the development of clean alternatives for some of the highest emitters of carbon and air pollution that are also critical for the UK economy – planes, ships, lorries, and buses.

The bid to encourage the development of hydrogen comes as one the group’s members, Shoreham Port, begins work on an ambitious new partnership with H2evolution to create a green hydrogen hub.

A planning application will shortly be developed to establish a 20-megawatt electrolysis plant to the south of the Port’s famous lock gates.

Hydrogen Sussex members regularly share best practice. Although Sussex based, their members include organisations who have been involved in successful hydrogen projects across the UK, including established hydrogen hubs in Aberdeen and Glasgow. 

They are also helping to facilitate conversations and projects with their members in the region: Ricardo and Brighton & Hove Buses are working together on a project to convert existing buses to hydrogen fuel cells, and Hydrogen Sussex has enabled organisations to collaborate on bid applications.  

Our pledge to the environment

The work of Hydrogen Sussex also backs the GB10, Greater Brighton’s 10 pledges on the environment, which includes commitments to promote clean fuel.

Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, leader of Brighton & Hove City Council and Greater Brighton Economic Board's lead for Green Growth, said:  

“With just nine years to limit the catastrophic effects of global warming, we take another step in the greatest challenge of our time launching the new group Hydrogen Sussex. 

“Bringing together all the important partners, the new group will support this game-changing technology. There’s huge potential to assist our city’s journey to net zero, drastically improve air quality locally and provide substantial economic benefits to our city and the wider Sussex region as we recover from the pandemic.
 
"This is the first step of many to develop our region as a hydrogen fuel hub. There is much to do but this has launched us off the starting block.”

Come to the launch of Hydrogen Sussex

Abigail Dombey, Chair of Hydrogen Sussex said:

"This is great example of the best minds and organisations in Sussex developing a common solution to a very challenging problem.  Hydrogen Sussex has a great mix of engineers, policy makers and entrepreneurs, and we are keen to show the world what can be done if we work together".

Hydrogen Sussex can be found on LinkedIn and Twitter @HydrogenSussex