Hydrogen to assist in carbon emissions battle

Using hydrogen for heating would significantly reduce the UK’s CO₂ emissions, a new report has found – but only if backed up with significant carbon capture and storage (CCS) development. The H21 Leeds City Gate project report, launched on 11 July, outlines the benefits of replacing natural gas in the city’s gas grid with ‘green’ hydrogen – a solution that could be rolled out to the rest of the country.

Burning hydrogen instead of natural gas produces pure water rather than emitting CO₂, providing a way to slash the CO₂ emissions from heat and cooking – currently over 30% of the UK carbon emissions.

However, as the report points out, generating hydrogen from fossil fuels would require that the CO2 generated during this process be securely stored, in order for the hydrogen to be truly low carbon. An alternative method of producing hydrogen from water using electricity would be far more expensive – even if generated using renewable energy.

By capturing the CO₂ and transporting it to secure offshore locations to be stored safely underground, using this ‘green’ hydrogen in place of natural gas would achieve a 73% reduction in CO₂ emissions for the entire system, according to the report.

As highlighted in the report, existing gas infrastructure can be used for hydrogen transportation, and many new jobs created as part of the roll-out of a hydrogen programme.

Commenting on the launch of the H21 Leeds City Gate report, Stuart Haszeldine, Director of SCCS said: “Replacing the use of natural gas with hydrogen for heating and cooking would almost completely decarbonise these systems. These have so far been a very difficult area of emissions to effectively reduce without digging up urban streets and at acceptable cost.

“However, to be truly low carbon, generating the hydrogen will require CCS, or much more expensive electrolysis of water using electricity. The least cost method of generating the large amounts of Hydrogen required is to reform natural gas into pure hydrogen, and separating the carbon in the form of CO₂.

"CCS and hydrogen represent a winning combination for UK decarbonisation efforts, and I welcome the launch of the H21 Leeds City Gate report to point the way forward.”

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/the-environment/11072016/hydrogen-to-assist-in-carbon-emissions-battle-3676/