Victrex is urging the UK government to assist in the development of future hydrogen networks, which will be critical in assisting businesses and the UK in meeting climate change goals.

Victrex, based in Thornton-Cleveleys, UK, wants to tap into UK hydrogen networks to help achieve a carbon net zero goal by 2030. Victrex, a major UK exporter serving household names in the Aerospace, Automotive, Electronics, Energy & Industrial, and Medical end markets, could benefit from access to hydrogen. Several hydrogen clusters have been proposed in the UK, including one in Cheshire, but none of them have any ties to major chemical and defense companies in Lancashire.

Victrex is requesting that the UK government ensure that high-tech industries like Chemicals have access to hydrogen networks. To ensure that key industries are not left behind, the company also calls for greater collaboration among those involved in developing future hydrogen clusters across the UK.

Another initiative is to find a way to use alternative fuels like hydrogen in manufacturing industries’ long-term investment plans.

Jakob Sigurdsson, Chief Executive of Victrex, said: “For companies like Victrex, and others in the wider Chemicals and manufacturing sectors, access to alternative fuels like hydrogen will be needed in order to support future carbon reduction plans – plans which are vital to the UK government’s own climate change targets.

“Hi-tech industries like Chemicals have a key role to play not just in the UK, but as global organisations. It is important to be able to inform our global customers about continuing progress on our Sustainability agenda, including the potential to use hydrogen as a fuel source.

“We’ve explained to ministers that a number of key industries in the UK like Chemicals and Defence could be left behind unless they are able to access future hydrogen grids. It’s vital that we can utilise alternative fuels and can start to consider their potential in our own investment plans before grids are developed.”