The UK government has launched a strategy to begin the replacement of natural gas use with hydrogen.

The government is aiming to generate 5 gigawatts of low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030 to replace natural gas in three million homes and in industry and transport. The target includes the production of green and blue hydrogen with a consultation planned on support for hydrogen projects similar to its contracts-for-difference scheme for investment in renewable energy.

The government says it will also review support for network and storage infrastructure and look at the feasibility of mixing 20% hydrogen into the existing gas supply. It will also consult on the design of a 240 million pound net zero hydrogen fund to support the commercial development of low-carbon hydrogen plants. Government analysis suggests 20-35% of the UK’s energy consumption by 2050 could be hydrogen-based.