The Hydrogen Taskforce has welcomed global risk management and quality assurance services firm, DNV, to join its coalition of U.K. organizations operating and innovating in and across the hydrogen sector, the company said on May 19.  

DNV will bring its extensive experience in managing low-carbon hydrogen and other sustainable energy value chains to the Taskforce. 

DNV is the independent expert in assurance and risk management to global industry including the energy, maritime, automotive and aerospace, food and beverage and healthcare industries.  

Its work in support of hydrogen’s use as a clean fuel for homes and businesses extends around the world. The organization is supporting major projects on the safe use of hydrogen as a fuel carrier in the U.K. through the H21, FutureGrid and H100 projects in association with National Grid, Northern Gas Networks and SGN; and in addition in the EU, North America, Norway and Australia. 

The Taskforce has been advising the Government on hydrogen policy following the publication of its report, “The role of hydrogen in delivering net zero” in March 2020. 

It is working closely with key stakeholders in Government to ensure that the forthcoming U.K. Hydrogen Strategy is reflective of the ambition of industry in the U.K. The strategy expected to be published in the summer and will set out the U.K.’s trajectory in hydrogen.  

DNV is the latest organization to join the Taskforce, as the membership diversifies and expands. DNV’s expertise will support the analysis the Taskforce provides to the Government and inform the ‘Building a Hydrogen Society’ campaign that will highlight the importance of hydrogen as part of the future energy mix.  

The firm will play a significant role in meeting the U.K.’s hydrogen ambitions, creating green jobs, and ensuring the U.K. reaches its net zero targets by 2050.   

Earlier this year, the Taskforce welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment to develop 5GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, and the announcement of £240 million (US$339 million) to support this vision.  

The Taskforce has been providing evidence to the Government on how hydrogen can support the U.K.’s economic recovery, post-COVID-19. Its landmark economic impact assessment, published in August 2020, forecasted that hydrogen could be worth up to £18 billion (US$25 billion) to the U.K. and create 75,000 jobs across the U.K. economy by 2035.  

At DNV’s Research and Development facility in Cumbria, advanced work is being undertaken on behalf of the H21 and FutureGrid partners focused on the safe use of hydrogen, critical to unlocking its potential in a clean energy future. 

“DNV’s position as a technical advisor to the hydrogen economy will support the Taskforce deliver its shared goal to decarbonize the U.K., level up the regions and drive innovation,” Gareth Morrell, co-lead on the Hydrogen Taskforce secretariat and head of insights, said. “DNV joining the Taskforce will add their significant experience and expertise to this coalition’s work engaging with the U.K. Government, which is currently devising a U.K. Hydrogen Strategy.”