Mark Horsley, Chief Executive Officer for Northern Gas Networks has given his backing to the UK Government’s £30 million investment in hydrogen demonstration projects contributing towards reaching Net Zero targets.
Horsley’s support follows the announcement from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) that it is to provide £30 million for two of the UK’s first hydrogen production plants as part of a larger £90 million pot to cut carbon emissions in industry and homes.
Hydrogen, when burned, creates heat without producing CO2, making it a realistic solution for the decarbonisation of heat.
Heating for domestic properties and industry currently accounts for around half of the UK’s energy consumption, and one third of its carbon emissions. Around 83% of UK homes use gas to for heat and hot water.
Horsley commented, “The Committee on Climate Change made clear that hydrogen will be essential to meeting our commitment in the timescales available, and we know this will require strong collaboration between industry, the energy supply chain and government, in order to deliver greener energy to customers.”
Northern Gas Networks is leading the H21 project, a collaborative gas industry programme focused on the conversion of the UK gas network to safely carry 100 % hydrogen.
It is also partnering Cadent and the Health & Safety Executive (Science Division) on HyDeploy, a ground-breaking energy pilot demonstrating that 20% vol. hydrogen can be safely blended into the existing network in order to reduce emissions, without changing customer appliances.
A live demonstration is currently underway at Keele University, UK, with blended hydrogen supplying energy for heating and cooking to 100 homes and 30 campus buildings.
Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/clean-fuels/21022020/northern-gas-networks-backs-governments-hydrogen-investment/
