The report by Humber Hydrogen and More in Common – The case for hydrogen in the Humber: Results from polling and focus groups – was launched at the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Reception at the Labour Party Conference on Saturday 26 September. Government ministers heard how locating Britain’s first hydrogen cluster in the Humber could support thousands of jobs and attract significant investment to Britain. 

Leading energy companies behind Humber Hydrogen are calling on the UK Government to open the competition for Britain's first hydrogen network at the Autumn Budget, warning that further delays risk undermining industry confidence and delaying investment, jobs and growth in the Humber. Senior leaders have said that without opening this competition the Humber could miss out on this vital opportunity to retain industry and attract investment to the region. 

Economic analysis commissioned by Humber Hydrogen shows that Britain's first hydrogen cluster in the Humber could support more than 54,000 jobs during construction, safeguard up to 4,000 jobs in key industries such as steel and chemicals, support 700 apprenticeships and generate £17 billion of economic growth. 

Key data provided by the More in Common report shows that: 

• Residents are concerned about future opportunities for young people. 75 per cent say there are few employment opportunities for young people and 88 per cent of 18-24 year-olds say opportunities for young people are lacking. More than half (51 per cent) of people from the region think their local area is worse than it was ten years ago, with many blaming the deterioration of the local area on the decline of traditional industries. 
• Whilst people in Yorkshire and the Humber express scepticism about net zero, they are supportive of investment in clean energy as a credible route to bring back jobs, deliver economic growth and regional prosperity. While just 41 per cent support the UK's net zero target, most residents in Yorkshire and the Humber think that government investment in generating cleaner forms of energy in their local area would be a good thing (61 per cent). 
• After the Humber Hydrogen project was explained to residents, support for Humber Hydrogen outweighed opposition by around five to one. 
• The call for investment extends beyond the East Coast of England. The British public also support investment in the region, with 34 per cent of Britons saying increased investment in less prosperous areas of Britain like Yorkshire and the Humber would benefit the whole country. 

Speaking in a focus group, Nelson from Doncaster said: 

“I think one of the problems with a lot of northern places, northern cities, is the fact that people have to go to other cities like Leeds and Manchester in order to get high paying jobs. And to stop that, we need better jobs in the region.” 

Speaking on behalf of the cluster, Ian Radley, Chief Commercial Officer at National Gas, said: 

“People across Yorkshire and the Humber are calling on renewed investment in the region's industries to secure skilled opportunities for the next generation. Humber Hydrogen can help deliver this ambition by creating and attracting new jobs, supporting industry and driving economic growth. 

“We’re calling on the UK Government to back the Humber as the home of Britain’s first hydrogen cluster. The region already has the industrial base, skills and infrastructure to lead Britain's hydrogen economy. 

“The Autumn Budget is a pivotal moment to provide industry with greater certainty about the future of hydrogen in Britain. Without clear policy support, Britain risks missing a significant investment opportunity, putting jobs, key industries and our position as a global leader in hydrogen at risk." 

Hydrogen can enhance Britain’s energy security by providing flexible, cleaner energy for our power system and industries. As an alternative fuel to natural gas, it can be used to decarbonise power generation and hard-to-electrify industries such as heavy manufacturing, chemicals and steel production. It can also be used as a feedstock for high-value products such as ammonia and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). 

The first-of-its-kind hydrogen cluster in East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire would be delivered by four of Britain’s leading energy companies – Centrica, Equinor, National Gas, and SSE Thermal. Together they bring expertise in hydrogen transport, production, usage and storage to support the region’s industries, reduce emissions, and create jobs. 

The Humber is the leading candidate for the UK Government’s £500 million Hydrogen Transport and Storage Business Model thanks to its strong hydrogen industry and potential with: 

• Six power stations in the region, investing in more than 4GW hydrogen-to-power – that’s more than 10 per cent of Britain’s average electricity demand. 
• Two blue and five green hydrogen projects, owned by different producers, delivering approximately 3GW of low carbon hydrogen. 
• 65 per cent of the UK’s total potential new-build storage capacity for hydrogen is in East Yorkshire. Natural salt caverns at Aldbrough are already used for gas storage and will be adapted and expanded with new caverns for hydrogen storage, helping to create one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world.

You can download the full report here.

Further quotes from those who participated in the focus group conversations.

"I think it would be a good investment… Obviously if it becomes the hydrogen hub and apparently hydrogen is meant to be the future… then you're obviously going to attract more people to the area. And with more people in the area, obviously that causes your high streets and everything to thrive." Cian, Accountant (Food Manufacturer) 

“If it brings employment, then it can only be a good thing. If you’ve got people with degrees that are able to help assist with that, then they will stay in that area or come back if they’ve done and got a degree, they’ll come back to the Humber region and they’ve got money then to spend. So it all helps with the economy.” Martha, Admin, Scunthorpe 

More in Common research methodology 

These findings are based on a mixed methods research project involving nationally representative quantitative research across Great Britain, and separate, regionally representative quantitative research across the Yorkshire and the Humber. More in Common was commissioned to conduct this research by National Gas on behalf of Humber Hydrogen. More in Common is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by their rules. Data Tables can be found on More in Common’s website. 

The regional Yorkshire and Humber poll had a sample size of 1,552, including 240 Yorkshire and the Humber residents who had a connection to the energy sector. Fieldwork for this poll took place between 04-18 August 2026. The national poll had a sample size of 2,010. Fieldwork for this poll took place between 14-17 August 2026. The regional poll was weighted to be representative of Yorkshire and the Humber according to age and gender interlocked, ethnicity, education level and 2024 General Election vote. The national poll was weighted according to age and gender interlocked, region, 2024 General Election vote, ethnicity, and education level. 

Three focus groups were conducted in Yorkshire and the Humber area across two rounds of research. The first was with residents with a connection to the energy sector. The second and third were with 2024 Labour voters who were considering Reform and 2024 Conservative voters who were considering Reform. These groups took place on 30 July and 27 August 2026. The names of focus group participants have been changed. Economic analysis The analysis reflects how we anticipate the Humber Hydrogen network – its projects and up to 90 miles of pipeline – will operate at inception. The economic impact analysis undertaken as part of this study calculates direct, indirect and induced GVA and job impacts associated with hydrogen production, transport and storage, and hydrogen to power projects, considering development (2026-28), construction (2029-38) and a 30-year operational phase starting from 2033. Emissions reductions are estimated based on the carbon intensity of natural gas being displaced by peak annual production of low-carbon hydrogen from 2040. The data does not reflect the Humber’s CCS projects, hydrogen for home heating, hydrogen for heavy transport, nor future expansion potential. Additional future users may emerge and add greater value but are not reflected in this analysis, to reduce unsubstantiated assumptions. We have developed these figures with the support of KPMG LLP using a fact-based quantification of benefits using industry benchmarks and data provided by the Humber Hydrogen partnership.

Economic analysis

The analysis reflects how we anticipate the Humber Hydrogen network – its projects and up to 90 miles of pipeline – will operate at inception. The economic impact analysis undertaken as part of this study calculates direct, indirect and induced GVA and job impacts associated with hydrogen production, transport and storage, and hydrogen to power projects, considering development (2026-28), construction (2029-38) and a 30-year operational phase starting from 2033. Emissions reductions are estimated based on the carbon intensity of natural gas being displaced by peak annual production of low-carbon hydrogen from 2040. 

The data does not reflect the Humber’s CCS projects, hydrogen for home heating, hydrogen for heavy transport, nor future expansion potential. 

Additional future users may emerge and add greater value but are not reflected in this analysis, to reduce unsubstantiated assumptions. 

We have developed these figures with the support of KPMG LLP using a fact-based quantification of benefits using industry benchmarks and data provided by the Humber Hydrogen partnership.