North West Hydrogen Alliance

Otto Simon Ltd • August 12, 2019

OSL is delighted to announce that we’re members of the North West Hydrogen Alliance!

The North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA) brings together some of the UK’s most influential organisations - including: Cadent, Peel, Costain, Shell and the Thornton Science Park - to work towards creating a hydrogen economy in the North West of England.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Otto Simon to be at the forefront of an emerging market and will help to position us for a number of interesting projects.

Peter Creer, Technical Director at Otto Simon said: “There are some really exciting hydrogen projects taking place right now in the North West. We’re not just talking about developing a hydrogen economy, we’re already doing it. We’ve got a long heritage in this region for innovation and we’ve the skills and technical expertise to deliver.”

Net zero carbon emissions ‘impossible’ without hydrogen, says North West Hydrogen Alliance

The North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA) is calling for Government investment in hydrogen projects to meet ambitious carbon reductions targets in the UK. The North West is one of a number of clusters bidding for over £130 million of Government funding to establish the world’s first net-zero carbon industrial cluster by 2040. The North West Energy & Hydrogen Cluster brings together a partnership of companies, regional leaders and academic experts and is home to HyNet, one of the country’s leading hydrogen and Carbon Capture Storage and Utilisation (CCUS) projects.

In a recent letter to the Secretary of State, the NWHA has pointed to the vital role of hydrogen within the Cluster and urged the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to commit to developing a hydrogen economy in the UK.

Professor Joseph Howe, Chair of the NWHA and Executive Director of the Thornton Energy Institute, said:

“The importance of hydrogen in reaching net zero carbon emissions can’t be underestimated. In fact, it’s hard to see how we’ll reach these ambitious targets without it – some might say it’s impossible. In the North West we’ve been working for years on developing a hydrogen economy that can be replicated across the UK. We’re lucky that we have all the elements you need – the industry, the infrastructure and the innovation that could make this a reality.

“Hydrogen has shot to the top of the agenda and is now widely recognised as a vital part of the energy mix. We have the private sector in the North West ready to invest and with Government support we can deliver something that’s transformational not only for the region but for the whole of the UK.”

Following its launch in November 2018, the NWHA has established itself as a prominent voice on the development of a hydrogen economy in the region. The organisation brings together some of the biggest names in the region including Atkins/SNC-Lavalin, BOC, Cadent, Costain, INOVYN, Peel Environmental, Shell and the University of Chester to establish the North West of England at the forefront of the UK’s hydrogen journey.

Hydrogen could play a key role in decarbonising the UK’s energy systems and meeting zero carbon obligations, as well as driving regional economic growth. Studies show the development of a major hydrogen cluster could deliver £17 billion in Gross Value Added for the North West, creating nearly 6000 jobs and saving 1 million tonnes of CO2 every year.

Visit the NWHA website for more information: www.nwhydrogenalliance.co.uk

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Otto Simon Achieves Cyber Essentials Certification

By Clees • February 12, 2025

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