7. Plaid Cymru Debate: Hydrogen strategy

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:41 pm on 15 June 2022.

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Photo of Samuel Kurtz Samuel Kurtz Conservative 5:41, 15 June 2022

Absolutely. And I give way to you, Mark, as someone who speaks for north Wales with great authority on this.

By using existing gas stocks and gas-fired power stations, such as the RWE power station in Pembroke, which result in far fewer emissions of nearly all types of pollutants, we can redevelop and equip existing infrastructure to meet the rising demand in energy. Basically, we can get going on hydrogen production sooner while we increase our renewable energy capacity. 

As we continue to make advancements in greener technology, we can then make the jump to fully fledged green hydrogen—a natural progression that ensures that every part of the industry works hand-in-glove with another. Let's make no mistake, Wales can become the beating heart of the United Kingdom's green energy future, but to do this, having the right infrastructure in place is pivotal to achieving our aspirations. There is a huge opportunity to create a low-carbon hydrogen hub in Pembrokeshire, firstly with blue hydrogen powered using gas, and then, finally, transitioning to green hydrogen, as powered by floating offshore wind—