<article><p class="lead">The UK has set a target of 5GW hydrogen production capacity by 2030.</p><p>This will be "low-carbon hydrogen" capacity, so may not necessarily be green hydrogen generated from renewable energy. But industry association RenewableUK welcomed the announcement, saying there was a "clear pathway for offshore wind to produce low-cost renewable hydrogen at scale".</p><p>The government plans to invest up to £500mn in hydrogen, with £240mn going to new hydrogen production facilities. The rest will be spent on trialling homes using hydrogen for heating and cooking.</p><p>The government also pledged £525mn to "help develop large and smaller-scale nuclear plants, and research and develop new advanced modular reactors".</p><p>But it has yet to decide on support for the 3.2GW Sizewell C nuclear plant. Last year, the government opened a consultation on a <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/1945028">regulated asset base model</a> for funding new nuclear, which Sizewell's developer, EdF, is seeking. Sizewell <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2108872">could start construction</a> in late 2021 and the project would take 10-12 years to complete.</p><p>The UK is struggling to bring a new generation of nuclear stations on line, with Hitachi recently <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2141781">ending work</a> on two projects.</p><p class="bylines"><i>By Killian Staines</i></p></article>
