SYSC have published a report looking at the role of hydrogen in South Yorkshire. It has been produced by SYSC on behalf of the University of Sheffield for the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. This is a deep dive into the current state of hydrogen in the region, examining its strengths and opportunities as well as providing recommendations for South Yorkshire.
State of Hydrogen in South Yorkshire is a timely report against the backdrop of the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and the region’s transition to net-zero. Hydrogen is estimated to make up 20-35% of the UK's final energy consumption by 2035 and South Yorkshire is poised to play a significant role in the UK's hydrogen economy, aligning with the government's ambition for 10 GW national hydrogen production capacity by 2030.
Paul Johnson, Investment Zone Strategic Lead, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority said: “We commissioned this report to deepen our understanding of the hydrogen sector in South Yorkshire and to explore the region’s unique strengths and opportunities. The insights and recommendations provided are incredibly valuable and will help shape our thinking as we continue to support clean energy innovation. We’re grateful to the Sustainability Centre for their work and look forward to continuing our collaboration as we explore the next steps together.”
The region's strengths lie in its robust advanced manufacturing base for hydrogen production and storage, strong R&D capabilities, particularly at the University of Sheffield with its large-scale green hydrogen facilities and partnerships with industry leaders, and excellent transportation links to emerging national hydrogen clusters. Furthermore, its educational institutions are well-equipped to provide the necessary engineering skills for the growing sector, which is estimated to create over 90,000 jobs nationally.
However, challenges exist. South Yorkshire's geography limits direct access to offshore wind for hydrogen production and marine transportation. Other challenges include the current distribution network electricity grid capacity, which may hinder large-scale green hydrogen production due to high energy consumption. Despite these hurdles, significant opportunities remain for South Yorkshire, particularly in decarbonising heavy industry and manufacturing (e.g., steel, glass, ceramics), which are expected to drive the majority of regional hydrogen demand. The potential for job creation and economic growth through the emerging hydrogen sector and related infrastructure projects, such as the East Coast Hydrogen project, further underscores the region's promising future in this critical energy transition.
Read the report now to find out more about South Yorkshire’s role and the impact the region can have on the emerging and rapidly growing hydrogen sector.
