Rhun ap Iorwerth hosts Senedd event to mark World Hydrogen Week and calls on Welsh Government for a hydrogen strategy
Yesterday in the Senedd (10/10/23) Rhun ap Iorwerth, Member of the Senedd for Ynys Môn and Leader of Plaid Cymru, sponsored a successful event to mark global celebrations of hydrogen technology, which also highlighted the hydrogen industry’s potential in Wales.
The event, organised by HyCymru (Wales Hydrogen Trade Association) highlighted Wales’ hydrogen projects and developments – including Menter Môn’s Holyhead Hydrogen Hub, but also contributions from international speakers including presentations from Germany Trade & Invest and Finland’s Hydrogen Economy by Flexens. There was also a showcase of hydrogen technology vehicles including cars and commercial buses outside the Milennium Centre in Cardiff Bay.
Hydrogen has an essential role to play in decarbonisation and responding to environmental challenges, and provides huge green economic growth opportunities. Following the event, Rhun ap Iorwerth called on Welsh Government for a strategy that would take advantage of Wales’ potential in the industry, and welcomed the response of Lesley Griffiths MS, Welsh Government’s Trefnydd and Minister for North Wales, who agreed that there is ‘massive opportunity’ in the hydrogen sector for Wales.
Speaking after the event, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:
“I'm excited about the potential of the hydrogen industry in Wales - there is such an opportunity here to create jobs, as well as to respond to environmental challenges.
“I was very pleased to sponsor the event and showcase this week, looking at how we can unlock that potential. We were joined by representatives of businesses and governments from across the world – and it was good to have an opportunity to listen to those experts on how to develop what we have here, and to tie the Welsh developments into the international picture on hydrogen.
“We have the natural resources, we have the ports, the infrastructure, the research opportunities, and we have support from the Welsh Government on the principle of developing hydrogen, but what we need is to move that forward so that it becomes something that is truly robust, through a clear plan to take the sector forward. I’m pleased that the Minister agrees with me and look forward to a further government statement.”