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Hydrogen: Water Abstraction

Asked by Graham LeadbitterScottish National PartyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 20 October 2025UIN 80568

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's policy on hydrogen on the (a) demand and (b) supply of water.

Answered by Michael Shanks

We require projects to have robust plans in place for sustainable water sourcing, including gaining abstraction licenses from the EA in England and SEPA in Scotland where required, and assess these when support is sought under Hydrogen Allocation Rounds. The Government’s forthcoming Hydrogen Strategy will build on previous work to elaborate on how water supply constraints are being considered in planning for the hydrogen economy.

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