Consenting and Real Estate Considerations for Developing Hydrogen Projects

Hydrogen is beginning to play a critical role in delivering the decarbonisation agenda. It has possible applications across a wide range of sectors, and the potential to decarbonise difficult-to-electrify areas such as heat and transport. Hydrogen does not occur naturally in its elemental form - it needs to be produced by separating it from other elements – so public and private sector entities around the world are now focusing on methods of hydrogen production and how it can be used deliver on their decarbonisation and ESG goals. CMS has long been involved in the development of demonstration and commercial scale new technologies in the energy sector, including networks projects and CCUS. 

In the first of our series of hydrogen publications, we highlight the key considerations that would apply at the early stages of developing a hydrogen project, focusing particularly on delivery of first of their kind consents, securing the necessary land rights and positioning a hydrogen project to succeed in what is a developing and often changing regulatory framework. Please contact one of the specialists named here to discuss these early stage issues.