BEIS launches Net Zero Hydrogen Fund

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) are launching a Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF), with up to £240m available in funding.

The NZHF was included in the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan, the UK Hydrogen Strategy, the UK Government Energy Security Strategy launched on the 7 April and the £375mln package of support for innovative energy technologies launched on the 8 April.

The aim of the NZHF is to provide capital expenditure (CAPEX) and development expenditure (DEVEX). This will support the commercial deployment of new low carbon hydrogen production projects during the 2020s.

This is to ensure the UK has a diverse and secure decarbonised energy system fit for meeting our ambition of 10GW low carbon hydrogen production by 2030, and commitment to reach net zero by 2050.

Innovate UK and Innovate UK KTN will be hosting an online competition briefing webinar on behalf of BEIS on the 26 April 2022 to share details of strands 1 and 2 of the NZHF.

Strand 1 will provide development expenditure (DEVEX) for front end engineering design (FEED) and post-FEED activities, aiming to build the pipeline of hydrogen production projects to measurably move these closer to deployment.

Strand 2 will provide capital expenditure (CAPEX) support for hydrogen production projects that do not require revenue support through the Hydrogen Business Model (HBM). Applicants for strand 2 must demonstrate how they will develop a credible project that will contribute to the at-scale production of low-carbon hydrogen by 2025.

Please join this webinar to hear more about the competition scope, timelines and key application criteria. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions to enable you to make informed decisions on the applicability of your project and to provide you with the best chance of success.

• The competition opens on 25th April 2022.
• Strand 1 will close on 22nd June 2022.
• Strand 2 will close on 6th July 2022.