BCGA – New appointment extends trade body’s role in the hydrogen economy
National trade body the British Compressed Gases Association has appointed an industry expert to lead the organisation’s activities in the hydrogen economy.
Andy Physick joins the BCGA in the newly created role of Hydrogen Policy Manager, a move signalling the association’s ambition to further develop this area of its membership and deliver the resources and information to support the emerging industry in the UK.
With a background in Process Engineering, Andy has more than 10 years’ experience delivering hydrogen and supplementary low-carbon initiatives, working across the full project lifecycle including concept, feasibility, FEED, detailed design, build, commissioning, operation and client handover.
In his new role he will contribute to BCGA’s hydrogen publication portfolio, which includes Codes of Practice and Guidance Notes, to ensure the BCGA remains a leading source of trusted information for designers, operators and regulators, and support the development of hydrogen-specific safety and practical considerations into in-service or in-development systems.
He will also work alongside the CEO of the BCGA, Ellen Daniels, to strengthen engagement with both central Government and Government bodies, emergency services and local authorities, as well as building national and international influence and alignment with partner associations and bodies to keep BCGA guidance consistent with best global practice, while reflecting UK specifics.
Andy, said:
The hydrogen economy is transitioning from pilot projects to early commercial deployment across a wide range of industrial clusters and sectors.
“As policy mechanisms for production and infrastructure mature and evolve at pace, projects increasingly need clear, consistent safety and competency frameworks to progress.Supply chain capacity and skills are scaling, but design assurance, integrity management and competent operation remain bottlenecks.Refuelling and distribution networks are also growing unevenly, and standardised, practical guidance is essential to reduce cost, programme risk and approval timelines.”
The role of a dedicated Hydrogen Policy Manager is the latest development from the BCGA, which has taken significant steps to support the UK’s move to a hydrogen economy.
This includes the development of a Gaseous Fuels Committee to offer safety and technical expertise. This committee has played a key role in hydrogen featuring in a supplement to the Blue Book, which offers expert information on the storage and dispensing of fuel for vehicles – a step which enables hydrogen to be introduced on forecourts in the UK’s fuel station network.
Ellen Daniels, said:
For decades, as the UK trade body for the compressed gases sector, we have promoted the safe and effective use and development of hydrogen.
“Our role includes developing best practices, providing technical guidance, and serving as a resource for safety and regulatory information.Building on our expertise in this area, Andy’s appointment enables us to further explore and amplify the opportunities to work together to ensure the continued responsible growth of the hydrogen economy.”
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
BCGA – New appointment extends trade body’s role in the hydrogen economy, source
