EP.260 Lawson Steele on Hydrogen, Storage Solutions and Decarbonising the UK Grid

This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re joined by Lawson Steele, CEO of Haldane Energy, to explore the strategic and practical role of hydrogen in long-duration energy storage and the UK’s energy transition. Marten Ford, who leads Aurora’s work in GBN Ireland on low-carbon fuels and hydrogen, guides the conversation through the challenges and opportunities facing the UK’s power system over the next decade.

Lawson is responsible for the day-to-day management of Haldane Energy and is a founder and director of the Windward Energy group of companies. He has over a decade of experience in renewables and energy infrastructure, building wind portfolios and independent distribution networks.

Main topics include:

• The strategic rationale for hydrogen long-duration energy storage and its role in replacing aging gas-fired power plants

• How hydrogen provides high energy density and flexible dispatchable power relative to alternatives like batteries or pumped hydro

• Design and operation of closed-loop hydrogen systems, including electrolysers, salt cavern storage, and hydrogen fuel power stations

• Commercial viability and the importance of government schemes to de-risk investment in large-scale hydrogen energy storage