Hydrogen Progress: The Netherlands vs UK – A Tale of Two Strategies

Are we serious?

The Netherlands continues to show how serious action on hydrogen can drive progress toward decarbonisation. With around 200 hydrogen vehicles and a wave of new refuelling stations planned by 2027, they are setting a clear example of how to accelerate the clean-energy transition.

In contrast, the UK’s approach has been far more sluggish. Despite bold net-zero targets, tangible progress in hydrogen infrastructure and adoption remains frustratingly slow. Announcements keep coming, but the number of vehicles on the road and open stations on the ground still lags what’s needed.

If we are serious about reaching net-zero by 2050, the UK has to move from strategy documents to visible delivery. That means putting vehicles into service, building stations where fleets actually operate, and backing operators who are willing to take the first steps.

We need, at minimum:

• A clear, bankable national strategy for hydrogen mobility;
• Investment in a network of refuelling stations that supports real-world logistics routes, not just pilot projects;
• Practical support for fleets that want to transition to hydrogen-powered vehicles – including predictable policy, not just one-off grants.

Hydrogen is not a silver bullet, but it is a crucial piece of the heavy-duty transport puzzle. Other countries are already treating it that way. If the UK wants to stay in the game rather than watch from the sidelines, it’s time to match the ambition of places like the Netherlands with delivery on the ground.