“‘Blue’ fossil-based hydrogen is not zero emissions and risks a lock-in of high carbon infrastructure and jobs,” says the study, adding that continued reliance on fossil gas could cause the UK to exceed its carbon budget.
“Hydrogen derived from fossil fuels is not zero emissions, due to methane leakages along the value chain,” it says. “The International Energy Association (IEA) estimates that the oil and gas sector emitted around 70 million tonnes of methane in 2020 – over 5% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.
“Methane is over 80 times more powerful, though shorter-lived greenhouse gas than CO2. Leakages are historically underestimated and underreported, with satellite technologies and site studies regularly revealing large, previously undetected plumes. The full costs of eliminating methane leakages is unknown, and the IEA estimates that even if all options were to be deployed across value chains, 25% of total oil and gas methane emissions would