Hydrogen could be powering UK homes in the future as engineers test pumping the gas through the national network in a bid to move away from fossil fuels.
The £12 million FutureGrid project is being run by a number of companies, including DNV and National Gas, to trial safely introducing hydrogen into a network that could be around 4,600 miles long.
At RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria several homes have been erected to test the use of hydrogen for heating boilers and for operation by the public, as well as for commercial use.
The Government is actively backing hydrogen-based energy production, with Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho announcing 11 projects in December last year.
Under Conservative plans the UK is aiming to reach 20 percent of hydrogen blended into the gas network, with the eventual goal of 100 percent in the future.
According to The Times, engineers in Cumbria successfully tested 100 percent in January. The European Union said it plans to allow up to two percent blended hydrogen and gas by the end of 2025.
Without permission to accept more hydrogen in the existing network, National Gas said it would need £600million a year to be spend on a deblending facility.
Heating giant British Gas says most boilers would be able to use a 20 percent hydrogen blend without any problems, adding: “In fact, many new boilers are already labelled ‘hydrogen-blend ready’ in case this first move towards hydrogen happens.
“In the meantime, boiler manufacturers are working on a new ‘hydrogen-ready’ standard which will mean the UK can switch as easily as possible to 100 percent hydrogen much further down the line.
“The government is currently carrying out trials to work through all the cost, feasibility and safety issues – and they’re expected to make firm decisions on what role hydrogen will play in heating the UK’s homes by 2026.”
Martin Cook, commercial director for National Gas, said “National Gas are proud to be leading the way with its groundbreaking research at FutureGrid, Spadeadam.
“Working alongside partners such as DNV will help us to understand how hydrogen can be transported in the current national transmission system (NTS).
“This is a critical step towards achieving the Government’s Net Zero targets for 2050, boosting energy resilience and increasing storage capacity as well as reducing emissions.”
