Yesterday I was delighted to chair a roundtable of the Energy Research Accelerator in Parliament on the importance of hydrogen for the Midlands.
The Energy Research Accelerator brings together nine Midlands research intensive organisations - including Keele University - and a research community of nearly 1,500 researchers.
The roundtable event provided us with an opportunity to discuss how the Midlands can be in a position to be a world leader in the development and use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. The Energy Research Accelerator, EDF, the Midlands Engine, and Cenex have been working closely to explore the potential of hydrogen use across the Midlands and beyond, to develop clean, hydrogen powered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) which would slash emissions across the UK. This will also bring skilled jobs to our region.
Thank you to all those who organised and spoke, especially Professor Martin Freer, Director of the Energy Research Accelerator (sat to my left).