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Often masqueraded as a crucial transitional source for decarbonisation, hydrogen energy is being promoted by governments and lobbyists alike. Carys Hopkins peels back the greenwashed campaigns and policy documents to take a closer look at this controversial energy source, and asks why Welsh Government is investing in it. 

Image: Climate protests Sept 2021, by Steve Eason

Hydrogen energy is packaged as a renewable energy source that governments and lobbyists claim is “critical” for the UK’s transition to net zero. However, due to it being 

largely produced from natural gas (without carbon capture) and used as a feedstock, input, or for making other chemicals, hydrogen is a gas that is more often than not combined with fossil fuels, and ends up playing a key role in the greenwashing of large scale polluters. 

Whilst little statistics for hydrogen usage are available, in recent years both government and big oil companies have been sounding their radars for the ways it can replace fossil fuels in the pursuit of net zero by 2050.

Europe has been a centre for the production and usage of hydrogen energy, with governments altering laws and regulations in favour of the industry, and painting it as a renewable energy which holds big promise.

However, a closer look at the corporations behind many of the hydrogen-related bodies and organisations is a cause for concern. With members of the global Hydrogen Council including Saudi Aramco, BP and Total, critics say hydrogen is merely a “cover story for fossil fuels”.

Giulia Chierchia, Vice President at BP has described hydrogen  “as key to the decarbonization of power, industry and heavy transport” – insisting that it would play “a critical role in the energy transition.”

As hydrogen energy is advertised as a renewable energy, it allows the fossil fuel industry to mix fossil fuels into this ‘renewable energy’ right under our noses without the majority being aware. 

This kind of greenwashing is something we’re seeing a lot as the pressure piles on big business to show they are socially and environmentally responsible. But through the use of Hydrogen, big oil is enabled —by governments— to continue to make use of their old investments in fossil fuels by integrating it into so-called renewable energies of today, as well as continuing to use fossil fuels in new explorations and investments – even though we need to significantly reduce or stop completely fossil fuel extraction if we are to slow down the climate crisis.

But a brief look at the PR and lobbying around Hydrogen provides a window into the way in which capital sees the climate crisis, and the failures of its so-called solutions. 

There has been a lot of sensationalising of hydrogen, especially here in Europe. A PR consulting company called FTI has created propaganda for groups such as Hydrogen Europe and The Hydrogen Council, both of which are predominantly made up of, and represent the views of, the fossil fuel industry. Lobbying governments within Europe is their clear aim, and they are so far succeeding. 

The European Commission’s hydrogen strategy is entirely reflective of the aims and desires of both Hydrogen Europe and the Hydrogen Council. This can further be seen in the UK’s own hydrogen strategy, which has seen the UK government provide £105 million and a goal by 2030 of £4 billion in subsidies. 

The UK Government also claim that the industry provides jobs, wealth and growth. In reality, due to the exploitative nature of the industry, the increasing role of automation, and the impact of covid-19, jobs in the industry and its workers have suffered massive blows in recent years. 

Closer to home a ‘Hydrogen Development in Wales’ report, published December 2020, details current and future plans for the production and usage of hydrogen energy in Wales. This report – for Welsh Governennt – was written by Element Energy, who were recently acquired by ERM –  a PR company focusing on the environment with a portfolio of clients featuring the likes of Exxonmobil, Shell and BP. 

The choice of Element Energy, who themselves have produced reports for Equinor, Cadent Gas and BP, raises serious questions about Welsh Government’s commitment to both the people of Wales and the global population when making critical decisions about energy. 

How are we able to trust that their report is a true representation of the current energy situation, when their motives could so easily be blurred with those of the fossil fuel industry?

The report’s conclusion makes it clear there are many barriers in Wales for having a large-scale green hydrogen plant, of which would produce 100% renewable energy. But it ends in a positive tone pointing the way toward Wales exploring other hydrogen options, such as grey or blue hydrogen —both of which use natural gas during production, otherwise known as fossil fuels. 

With governments continuing to support big oil both in subsidies and in policy, how are we to progress further in any of our climate goals as a country, let alone as an international community? 

Governments and businesses continue to break The Paris Agreement and other legislative laws that protect the rights of individuals and the environment. An incredible group of three claimants are taking the UK government to court, in hope to stop taxpayers money funding the fossil fuel industry. 

The continued usage of fossil fuels —even when mixed in with renewable energies— is not a credible option. The future must be fossil fuel free. We have alternatives that are 100% fossil fuel free, —solar, wind, hydro— yet we spend billions on harmful delay tactics that continue to perpetuate climate change. 

The propaganda being spread by big oil and governments must stop, and the real pathway to 100% renewable energy sources taken.