Hydrogen South West (HSW) has announced the appointment of Andy Clarke, director for integrated transport at Costain, as its new chair, replacing the outgoing Simon Earles, who is stepping down after almost two years in post. 

At Costain, Clarke is responsible for creating multi-modal transport solutions which leverage cross-sector collaboration, new approaches and digital technologies to enable healthier, happier and better-connected communities. He is committed to accelerating the green transport revolution, not least through the development of hydrogen fuel. He has been a board member of HSW since its inception in 2021 and was appointed to the role at its last meeting.

At the same time, the National Composite Centre (NCC) was appointed a full board member of HSW, with its strategic partnerships director, Jo Dally, assuming the newly created position of deputy chair.

Discussing his appointment, Clarke said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have been elected as the new chair of HSW. Government has set ambitious targets for UK plc to achieve net zero by 2050 at the latest, and our members are ready to play their part in accelerating the change. The only way we are going to deliver this ambition is by industry, local and regional government, business leaders and SMEs working together to bring the benefits of hydrogen to the south-west of England.

“I would like to thank Simon Earles for establishing HSW and for his fantastic stewardship over the last two years.”

Hydrogen South West is a partnership of leading businesses and innovators driving the development of hydrogen infrastructure across the region. Focusing on key sectors such as maritime, aviation and utilities, the consortium comprises leading companies easyJet, Airbus and Hynamics (EDF); industrial heavyweights GKN Aerospace; consultants and engineers Costain and WSP; and regional leaders Bristol Port, Bristol Airport, Wessex Water and Wales and West Utilities.  The collaboration creates links between supply and demand centres in the region and enables cross-sector partnerships that will drive the development of hydrogen infrastructure and technology.

Simon Earles, outgoing chair of HSW, said: “As a partnership we have made so much progress since our inception, bringing together more than 30 organisations from a range of sectors, holding a parliamentary reception in Westminster and bringing forward a raft of exciting projects, and I would like to sincerely thank all our partners and members for their support in these formative times. I’m delighted that Andy has agreed to take up the mantle as chair and I look forward to watching what the team achieves in the future. 

“We now have a fantastic opportunity, under Andy’s guidance, to firmly place the south-west at the very vanguard of the UK’s transition to alternative power at scale.”

For more information on Hydrogen South West, go to www.hydrogensouthwest.com