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Hydrogen's Role in Achieving Net-Zero
Introduction to Net-Zero The UK's ambitious target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 has generated a significant amount of interest. In particular. what has drawn specific focus is how heating (the primary source of emissions in the UK) can be decarbonised to meet this legal requirement.
One solution that stands out amongst the others and is slowly becoming a genuine possibility in the race to decarbonise Great Britain is the adoption and mass implementation of hydrogen technologies. Large-scale hydrogen gas networks. such as H21. are currently developing in the UK and demonstrate how hydrogen is already seeking to shape the notion's future. H21. in particular, aims to provide a comprehensive engineering solution that will convert gas networks across the region to a hydrogen alternative between 2028 and 203 5. Overall. this will decarbonise 14% of the entire UK's heating supply. supporting the world's largest Co2 emissions reduction project. with 12.5 million tonnes per annum removed from the atmosphere. The two key deliverables of a hydrogen de-carbonisation project are: The large-scale conversion of meter points to hydrogen. Decreasing the reliance on natural gases that are currently heating homes. All this sounds good in theory; however. accomplishing these targets will be far from easy. Reaching the industry's net-zero goals will undoubtedly have its fair share of obstacles to overcome. One such hurdle is the large-scale replacement of pre-existing iron gas transmission pipes. which have an increased leakage rate after converting to hydrogen gas. The development of modern technology behind large-scale hydrogen will be essential in delivering on these rapidly increasing production goals. Processes, such as auto-thermal reforming. are already being adopted to produce 'Syngas·. a fuel gas mixture composed of both hydrogen and carbon monoxide. which can deliver low-carbon heating to large areas. Other solutions being developed include salt cavern storage and ATR reforming techniques. which are slowly but surely creating tangible evidence of how the supply and storage of hydrogen gas on a large scale can finally be achieved. With all that being said. the overall long-term deliverables of flagship projects such as H21 suggest that a hydrogen economy is much closer to transpiring than ever.
The road to achieving carbon net-zero within the built industry is long. and all professional organisations involved in the construction process, including us here at Foreman Roberts, will have a part to play in it. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the sustainable future of the built industry - to find out how Foreman Roberts are doing our bit to support a net-zero carbon future, head to https://foremanroberts.com/inspiration-innovation/energy-sustainability/.
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