On Wednesday 28^th January 2026 CATCH held the latest meeting of the CATCH Humber Industrial Decarbonisation Network at The Ropewalk, Barton-Upon-Humber.

Chair Joe Howe, Net Zero Professor at University of Lincoln welcomed over 60 delegates both in person and online, before introducing the first speakers, Helen Sisson, Senior External Communications Manager, STEP Fusion and Dr Edward Wright, Senior Energy Advisor, Lincolnshire County Council.

Helen introduced STEP Fusion, and their aim to be the first power plant operating using nuclear fusion as a method of energy production. Helen explained the benefits of the process and how their Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production is a pioneering prototype fusion power plant. By 2040 STEP hope to be providing energy to the grid, using their prototype power plant.  STEP Fusion is supported by the government in its current stages, with an aim to bring around 6,500 Construction Roles and 13,000 Operational Roles across the United Kingdom.

Dr. Edward Wright then discussed the Trent Supercluster, in particular the West Burton Power Station where STEP Fusion will be operating. The Trent Supercluster not only operates as an anchor for energy and economic growth within the region, with 3 large scale power production facilities, including the site as West Burton, but also as a collaborative between government and industry across the East Midlands, Greater Lincolnshire and increasingly South Yorkshire regions, with local businesses being continually supported and raising aspirations throughout the regions as the project continues.

After taking questions from delegates, the meeting next heard from Antony Miller, Commercial Lead – Hydrogen, Equinor, about the Humber Hydrogen Pipeline Project. Antony began by explaining how the Humber Region is the best location to be able to kickstart the H₂ Economy and deliver H₂P in both the short and long term, due to extensive skills and experience across the region, access to green energy and power plants that could be converted to operate on hydrogen, as well as suitable geology and geography within the Humber Region.

The Humber Hydrogen Pipeline is looking to connect Aldbrough Hydrogen Store to terminals at Easington and Saltend Chemical Park, the South Bank and potentially beyond to Keadby, all locations which have the capability for production of both Blue and Green H₂, as well as H₂P and H₂ Users. The Humber Hydrogen Pathway is hoping to be selected as the preferred H₂ Network in Early 2027, becoming a scalable pathway to the National Hydrogen Economy, starting regionally within the Humber.

The group then heard from Arjan Geveke, Director, Energy Intensive Users Group, whose members include some of the most energy intensive users in the United Kingdom, including the Steel Industry, British Glass and Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI).

The Energy Intensives Users Group have several focus areas, including the interaction between the Carbon Leakage Mitigation Policies and Review of the Relief Schemes for certain Energy Intensive Industries. Arjan also discussed the about ensuring the security of Energy Supply, before finishing by discussing how Energy Intensive User Group are looking to assist in influencing the Government’s Industrial Decarbonisation Policies.

Arjan took questions from the group before a brief coffee and networking break.

Following the break, the group heard from Georgiana Muscula, Hydrogen Project Specialist, Cadent Gas, who presented to the group on Cadent’s Low Carbon Conversion of Non-Domestic Properties Project. Cadent’s aim is the generate holistic evidence to assist and inform with future policy and regulatory frameworks for non-domestic decarbonisation. They are doing this by visiting a variety of businesses and conducting site surveys.  There is still time to partake in Cadent’s Project, and more details can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7419317843810484224

The final speaker for the network was Debbie Baker, Clean Energy and Public Affairs Consultant, who spoke on behalf of The Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Skills Accelerator. Debbie began by indicating the jobs forecast for Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage, acknowledging where the skills challenges are.

The Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Skills Accelerator have been approved to operate pilot programmes in the North and South West Regions in order to support the skills gap present in both Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage.

The skills plan has recognised significant issues, including uncertainty in the demand for skills, and a lack of clarity surrounding what the roles will look like within industry. There is also a lack of provider capacity to be able to deliver specific hydrogen training, so the Skills Accelerator is looking to not only bridge the skills gap in their pilot regions, but also work with SIAS to develop Level 2 and/or Level 3 Hydrogen and CCS Qualifications, and are aiming to ensure that careers utilising hydrogen and carbon capture are well understood.

The session closed with Joe thanking all in attendance, and a networking lunch for all in-person attendees followed.

The next meeting of the CATCH Industrial Decarbonisation Network will be held on Wednesday 25^th March 2026, and will be held at Aura Innovation Centre, Hessle, Hull.  This meeting is sponsored by the Northern Endurance Partnership.

For more information about our networks and CATCH Membership, please contact katie.hedges@catchuk.org.