Mike Foster, chief executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), says: 'The energy crisis has forced the Government to announce a new strategy and we welcome it. The PM has made his move towards hydrogen, doubling his ambition and we say ‘well done’. He has recognised the need for a flexible, low carbon and affordable gas to heat homes and power industry. Hydrogen is that gas. And across the globe, in response to Putin’s savagery, nations are turning to hydrogen.

“Hydrogen heating will mean people can keep their gas boilers, cookers and fires; it is just the gas that is being changed. We did the same thing in the 1960s, moving from Town Gas to natural gas, now we will move from natural gas to hydrogen. The UK will lead the way, as it did before, and that is what this government wants to see.

“Consumers will avoid major disruption to their lives, minimise the costs associated with achieving Net Zero, at the same time help save the planet from climate change, and keep Putin’s gas in the ground. That’s what I call a win.”

Carl Arntzen, chief executive of Worcester Bosch commented: “The heating industry has been waiting with bated breath for the release of the Energy Strategy review and in particular what emphasis there would be on hydrogen.

'So it is great to see that upon its release the Government has doubled on its target for hydrogen production by 2030 from 5GW to 10GW. This is something that we at Worcester Bosch have been pushing for some time, given hydrogen's viable position as an alternative fuel for domestic heating. This increased production could result in thousands of homes being heated by either 100% hydrogen gas or within a blend with natural gas.

'We see hydrogen playing an essential role on the road to net zero, working alongside other low carbon technologies such as heat pumps. The Energy Strategy release today highlights that policy makers may also agree.'