Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/1141870
DECARBONISATION NETWORK / 32 / JULY/AUGUST 2019 are building strategic partner- ships across the region to inform our planning and are investing £25m across the North West in strategic network projects to ensure capacity is available where and when it's needed. Q How big a role can the impact of decarbonised transport have on climate change? PJ: One of the biggest challeng- es in this area is the provision of charging infrastructure and we will work with chargepoint providers, local authorities and vehicle manufacturers to ensure that we make capacity available where it is needed to support the connection of chargers. JC: Transport has a key role to play in reducing carbon emis- sions and improving air quality in our towns and cities. It is a major contributor to the UK greenhouse gas emissions. IG: Decarbonising transport potentially could have a huge impact on carbon emissions and it's an area into which Cadent has been making some signifi- cant inroads. We believe that the gas distribution companies have an important role to play in cutting transport emissions through repurposing the gas network to deliver zero and low carbon gases, such as biometh- ane and hydrogen, to fuel HGVs and buses. AL: It is key. Cars are believed to be responsible for around one third of London's CO2 emis- sions. More than 68 per cent of all new cars are purchased by businesses. By giving fleet operators more choice in charg- ing infrastructure could enable more investment in electric vehicles and achieve a zero emissions transport system in London by 2050. HB: This will have a huge impact on climate change. It's an opportunity for the network companies to play a trusted partner role and provide the ad - vice, support and investment in the network that will underpin the growth that needs to happen in this area. AR: The decarbonisation of transport is imperative in meeting the net zero target. The benefits of increasing EVs in the bid to decarbonise are twofold. Firstly, electricity can be generated through renew - able technology, and secondly EVs are inherently flexible and the battery storage capabilities provide exciting opportunities for flexible solutions in the transition to DSO. Q Does the regulator need to be ready to re-open the RIIO2 price control methodology to enable the required policies and money that's needed to be in place to achieve the net- zero goal? JC: The RIIO2 methodology is already well set to manage any legislative changes on carbon reduction targets. As such there is no need to re-open the methodology that was deter - mined and published by Ofgem Unlocking the potential of hydrogen Anna Turley, MP for Redcar and chair of the Government's All Party Parliamentary Group on Hydrogen, on why unlocking the UK's hydrogen potential could be part of the solution to climate change. I was pleased to see the Government's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero by 2050. The recent climate change protests emphasised that there are hugely important political decisions to be made in achieving an environmentally friendly future. How we cut carbon emissions and achieve clean growth is an issue that we must devote huge amounts of energy into answering. As chair of the APPG on Hydrogen, I know there are innovative projects underway in creating clean energy and the UK has quickly established itself as a world-leader in hydrogen technology. Given the recent announcement, it's important that the Government, local authorities and the sector work together to maximise this opportunity. One of the biggest barriers to eliminating carbon emissions will be looking at how we heat people's homes in the future and hydrogen will play a crucial role in this. Large-scale conversion to hydrogen has the potential to drastically cut carbon emissions. In the UK, around 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are from the heating of homes and businesses. Converting this gas supply to hydrogen would cut this to zero. Not only would this cut carbon emissions, but it would create and sustain thousands of quality jobs and unlock innovation across a number of sectors. That's why I am proud to have the backing of the unions, UNISON and GMB on our future energy focus. It is clear that there is a strong interest from central government for a hydrogen economy, prior to the Prime Minister's announcement, you only need to look at the commitment made by the Chancellor in the Spring Statement to decarbonise gas which will unlock innovation in other sectors. The Government has also recently announced that six hydrogen trains will be introduced in the new East Midlands Railway franchise. This is a good start, but the Government needs to take swift action to deliver on its promises for clean energy and unlocking the UK's hydrogen potential could be the answer. We need to provide a real solution to the important questions being put to us by a public becoming increasingly concerned about climate change. The APPG will continue to work with industry and politicians to deliver on our commitment for a future hydrogen economy. It's now time for the Government and Parliament to realise this ambition being shown out in the regions and put their backing into hydrogen.