UK plan to replace fossil gas with blue hydrogen ‘may backfire’

Academics warn fugitive' emissions from producing hydrogen could be 20% worse for climate than using gas

The government's plan to replace fossil gas with blue" hydrogen to help meet its climate targets could backfire after US academics found that it may lead to more emissions than using gas.

In some cases blue hydrogen, which is made from fossil gas, could be up to 20% worse for the climate than using gas in homes and heavy industry, owing to the emissions that escape when gas is extracted from the ground and split to produce hydrogen.