Safe Net Zero 2026:
The next steps for the safe deployment of hydrogen and its derivatives
HSE is once again delighted to be bringing together key hydrogen stakeholders to share knowledge and experiences at Safe Net Zero 2026, with the theme for this year's event being the next steps for safe deployment of Hydrogen and its derivatives.
Join us in Edinburgh this November for the opportunity to learn, share and network via a packed programme which focuses on what is happening with hydrogen safety nationally and globally, and what that means in relation to the UK transport, storage and production landscapes. Posters from academic researchers will address current and future research priorities.
What to expect from this year's event
While the UK government prepares to publish its hydrogen strategy, activities and developments continue in anticipation across the hydrogen landscape. We are also interested to learn from other countries what progress they are making and the challenges they face and overcome and how they relate to UK activities. We will hear about policy, market forces and opportunities and trends.
To make Great Britain a safe, green energy superpower, new hydrogen production and storage projects need to build in safety from the start, whilst existing ones need to continue to manage safety risks effectively throughout the project lifecycle.
To help industry, government and academia achieve this, HSE is once again bringing together key hydrogen stakeholders to share knowledge and experiences, so that together we can ensure the safe development and roll out of hydrogen technologies.
Conference programme
The two-day programme of safety-focused thought leadership and the latest technological insights from several major UK and international projects and research priorities for hydrogen and its derivatives is built around the following programme of sessions:
See our confirmed speakers below...
We are still finalising the agenda, so check back over the coming weeks for the latest version.
Wednesday 18 November (Day 1): Hydrogen Safety - The National and Global Picture
Opening session
Welcome - Stuart Hawksworth (HSE)
HSE keynote address - Sarah Newton (Chair, HSE)
Keynote and Q&A - Ian Marshall (NESO)
Session 1: Standards and guidance: gaps to close
Chair's welcome - Ian McCluskey (IGEM)
Mark Scanlon (Energy Institute)
Jane Durling (Environment Agency)
Jacqui Lang (SEPA)
Ed McFarlane (Abbot Risk Consulting)
Panel session and Q&A
Session 2: The national and global picture
Chair's welcome - Charles Oakley (HSE)
Pacific and Asia - Nick Smith (HySafe)
Canada and America - Nirmal Gnanapragasam (Canadian Centre for Hydrogen Safety)
UK hydrogen landscape - Brett Ryan (Hydrogen UK)
Panel session and Q&A
Session 3: Transport, storage and production
Chair's welcome - Nigel Holmes (Hydrogen Scotland)
James Steven (DNV)
David Parkin (Progressive Energy)
Daniel Sandana (ROSEN)
Rob Donovan, Luke Hollis and Neil Merrit (Cadent)
Liquid Hydrogen Storage - learning from an historical incident - Stuart Williams (Air Products)
Panel session and Q&A
Thursday 19 November (Day 2): Delivering the Hydrogen Economy Safely
Session 4: Research priorities
Chair's welcome - Ben Oakley (GOTT)
Hydrogen research priorities - Kate Jeffrey (HSE)
Hydrogen Safety - International update and some recent work at KIT - Thomas Jordan (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)
Failure of Liquid Hydrogen Tanks - Maxim Bragin (Air Products)
Safely Deploying Hydrogen in Operational Environments - An end-user perspective from UK Defence - Joseph Lam (Ministry of Defence)
Panel session and Q&A
Session 5: Hydrogen applications and end users (part 1)
Chair's welcome - Ed McFarlane (Abbot Risk Consulting)
Ed Sullivan (Collective Resilience)
Barry Cranstoun (Scottish Fire and Rescue Service)
Ian Wilkinson (GeoPura)
Clare Oakley and Philippa Jane (Culham Laboratories)
Panel session and Q&A
Session 6: Hydrogen applications and end users (part 2)
Chair's welcome - Nigel Holmes (Hydrogen Scotland)
David Debney (ATI)
Mohamed Aly (Rolls-Royce)
Ryan Green (Airbus)
Helen Leadbetter (CAA)
Mark Eldridge (Element Materials Technology)
Nick Hayward (Protium)
Greg Easter (DfT)
Panel session and Q&A
More speakers coming soon, please check back for updates
Panel session and Q&A
Also, for the first time at the Safe Net Zero series, we are inviting academia to showcase the hydrogen research they are involved in through a posters exhibition.
Take a look at last year's event
Safe Net Zero 2026 builds on the success of last year's event, which focused on the safety considerations for the production and large scale storage of hydrogen and its derivatives.
See some of the attendees share their reflections of the 2025 conference below:
Book your place(s)
Click the button below to secure your delegate pass(es) for Safe Net Zero 2026.
Sponsorship opportunities
We have a limited number of sponsorship and exhibition opportunities available which provide an excellent platform to raise your organisation's profile at this event.
With packages to suit all budgets, your presence will allow you to showcase your products and services, engage with our delegates and generate new leads.