Net Zero Festival: What role could hydrogen play in the future economy?

Michael Holder
clock • 1 min read

VIDEO: In our final Glimpses report looking at potential net zero gamechangers, BusinessGreen looks at the potential for hydrogen use in energy, transport and home heating

Some of the most exciting solutions for a net zero future are right below our noses: hydrogen is the most simple and abundant element, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the observable universe. 

While the idea of using hydrogen as a fuel has been kicked around for decades, it is now increasingly being seen as key zero carbon solution for myriad applications, from cars and lorries, ships and planes, all the way through to home heating, energy storage, and heavy industrial manufacturing. Perhaps hydrogen's time has finally come?

In our final 'Glimpses' report produced for the world's first Net Zero Festival, BusinessGreen considers whether hydrogen has the potential to be a net zero gamechanger, and the challenges, opportunities and many applications for the zero emission fuel. 

The full video - which includes insights from BloombergNEF's head of industry and building decarbonisation Kobad Bhavnagri, Vattenfall's UK country director Danielle Lane, and ITM Power CEO Graham Cooley - is available to watch in full above. 

All of the panel debates, keynote speeches, and presentations from the world's first Net Zero Festival - which took place over three days from 30 September featuring hundreds of top speakers from business, politics and academia - are now available to watch again on demand through the Net Zero Festival website.

More on Technology

'A new era': EU unveils world's first voluntary standard for permanent carbon removals

'A new era': EU unveils world's first voluntary standard for permanent carbon removals

European Commission adopts first set of methodologies under bloc's Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation, delivering major boost to fledgling carbon removals market

James Murray
clock 03 February 2026 • 4 min read
New £21.5m funding offered to boost farm innovation

New £21.5m funding offered to boost farm innovation

Defra says support will move cutting-edge research into practical tools farmers can use to boost yields and curb environmental impacts

Jane Thynne, Farmers Guardian
clock 02 February 2026 • 2 min read
 How IndiNature is using hemp to cut embodied carbon from insulation

How IndiNature is using hemp to cut embodied carbon from insulation

Brian Monaghan, sales director at IndiNature, discusses the firm’s efforts to roll out carbon-negative insulation at scale, and the potential impact of a national retrofit policy

Stuart Stone
clock 02 February 2026 • 6 min read