A Suffolk district is aiming to become a national hub for clean hydrogen generation and become a 'powerhouse' for green energy to help meet net zero objectives and tackle climate change.

East Suffolk Council is set to implement a clean hydrogen strategy, which would support the emergence of the local hydrogen economy between 2023 and 2028.

The aim is to identify local opportunities for the hydrogen economy over the next five years and establish how the council can support them.

One example is plans by energy firm ScottishPower to explore the possibility of building and operating a green hydrogen facility at the Port of Felixstowe.

The multi-hundred megawatt hub would help create a greener port and provide clean fuel for customers at Britain's busiest container terminal.

Plans are being developed to use green hydrogen for onshore purposes, such as road, rail and industrial use, with the potential to create liquid forms, such as green ammonia or e-methanol. 

This could, in turn, provide clean fuels for shipping and aviation and create opportunities for cost-effective export to international markets.

In a report to the council's cabinet, deputy leader Craig Rivett, who is responsible for economic development, said hydrogen represented a 'significant economic and environmental opportunity for the UK'.

Nationally, the aim was to create 10GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2030 and the strategy aims to link in with other forms of renewable production in East Suffolk, such as offshore wind and nuclear power.

Cllr Rivett said: "East Suffolk already has a competitive advantage in clean energy production and as such has developed an economically significant cluster, particularly in offshore wind and nuclear.

"Supporting the development of the clean hydrogen sector will further develop this important sector and further embed East Suffolk’s position as an all-energy economic powerhouse."

The plans were due to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.