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AREG News: AREG Publishes Position Paper on Hydrogen: Hype or a Critical Piece of the Net Zero Puzzle?

November 28, 2025
AREG News: AREG Publishes Position Paper on Hydrogen: Hype or a Critical Piece of the Net Zero Puzzle?

Recent critiques have questioned the viability of hydrogen as a clean energy solution, arguing that it is inefficient, over-hyped, and mis-used in public policy. While these concerns about hydrogen’s limitations are valid, particularly in comparison to the direct use of electrification, the broader picture is more complex – and more hopeful.

AREG has today released a comprehensive position paper examining hydrogen’s viability as an energy source and its role in the future energy landscape. The paper, titled “Hydrogen: Hype or a Critical Piece of the Net Zero Puzzle?” establishes AREG’s position on hydrogen and the potential for its full integration into the UK’s energy mix.

The paper acknowledges the challenges and limitations of hydrogen, but also highlights the broader, optimistic perspective for the industry. It considers safety, efficiency, system value, and unique energy uses where hydrogen excels.

Jean Morrison, AREG Chair said “As part of our commitment to the energy industry, AREG will continue to make contributions to the discourse on important topics, one of which is hydrogen. Being aware of the potential drawbacks, we also see the strategic potential and unique use cases for hydrogen development especially within the ambit of the UK’s current energy mix.”

The full position paper is available here. For enquiries, please send an email to [email protected].

Founded in 2003, AREG is passionately committed to supporting the energy transition and advocates for a balanced energy policy that prioritises security of supply. Achieving this balance requires a determined effort to increase both the production and use of low-carbon energy sources. At the same time, AREG recognises the importance of maintaining robust local supply chains to ensure the resilience and reliability of the energy system.

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AREG is the original energy transition organisation, working on behalf of members to empower the energy supply chain and champion its expertise. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to find out more about membership.

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AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

Scottish Renewables
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Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
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The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

All-Energy
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Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

Vattenfall
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Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

Scottish Enterprise