News

Ofgem awards millions for hydrogen development

Hydrogen to heat our homes has taken a step nearer to reality with the award by Ofgem of millions of pounds to two projects, which will develop a network of hydrogen manufactured by wind to 300 homes, and a hydrogen transmission test facility.

The funding is part of Ofgem’s annual Network Innovation Competition to test new technologies and approaches that help cut carbon emissions and costs for consumers.

H100 Fife saw SGN awarded up to £18 million towards delivering a 100 per cent green hydrogen generation, storage and distribution network to heat 300 homes. The hydrogen would be manufactured using offshore wind power. Ofgem’s award also triggers a further investment of £6.9 million from the Scottish government.

National Grid Gas Transmission was awarded £9.07 million to build a hydrogen test facility using decommissioned gas transmission infrastructure to better understand how hydrogen interacts with existing network transmission.

Jonathan Brearley, chief executive of Ofgem, said: “The winning projects were those that showed the most potential to make the game-changing leaps in technology we need to build a greener, fairer energy system at the lowest cost to consumers.”

SGN and Britain’s three other gas distribution networks are providing further funding for the H100 project. Work will now begin on delivering a 100 per cent hydrogen demonstration network in Levenmouth, Fife, that will bring carbon-free heating and cooking to around 300 homes from the end of 2022.

The project will provide evidence of hydrogen’s performance in a real-world domestic setting as a zero-carbon energy source, as the Scottish and UK governments look to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045 and 2050 respectively, says SGN.

Hydrogen will be produced locally by a dedicated electrolysis plant powered by a nearby offshore wind turbine. The project will be the first of its kind to use a direct clean power supply to produce hydrogen for domestic heating, putting the Fife town at the forefront of the green energy revolution.

Levenmouth, home to the H100 Fife project

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Contractor fined for asbestos survey failings

A Bristol contractor has been fined £2,000 for failing to complete the correct asbestos survey at a domestic construction project.

Salisbury Magistrates’ Court heard that, on 18 October 2017, there was a gas explosion at a flat at Market Place, Chippenham, where construction work had been carried out to develop the property into flats.

Prestige EA had been contracted to advise and manage the development of the property into four flats above a retail unit. The wrong type of asbestos survey was carried out before the work, so the work completed did not comply with the law.

Following the explosion, the HSE investigation found that Prestige EA had failed to plan, manage and monitor construction work to prevent people being exposed to risks associated with asbestos.

The now liquidated Prestige EA Ltd, of St James Court, St James Parade, Bristol, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £2,000 plus costs of £3,000.

Roderick Standing, who was a senior manager at the now dissolved Longwood Building, was contracted by Prestige EA to carry out the construction work. Mr Standing was found not guilty of breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

HSE inspector Leo Diez said: “Duty holders must make sure that construction work is properly planned, managed and monitored to ensure asbestos work is carried out in a safe manner to the required standard.

“The dangers associated with asbestos are well known and a wealth of advice and guidance is freely available from HSE and other organisations.”

To report illegal gas work please call 0800 408 5577 or go to www.GasSafeRegister. co.uk/reportillegal

Keep skills alive with an apprentice, urges JTL

JTL is encouraging employers to take advantage of government cash grants and take on an apprentice before 31 January 2021. The government is offering £2,000 to employers who hire an apprentice between 16 and 24 years old, or £1,500 for over-25s.

The apprentice must be a new employee to the business, have a contract of employment start date between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021 (inclusive), and must not have been employed by the employer in the six months prior to the contract start date.

Cathie Foster, JTL’s head of marketing and communication, says: “We want to encourage employers to build a brighter future for their business by taking advantage of this funding. Now is the last opportunity for employers to access the government funding and take on apprentices to further support their individual business, as well as helping the wider COVID-19 economic recovery plan.

“To ensure the pipeline of skilled tradespeople continues, we are on hand to speak to employers who are keen to invest in the training and development of an apprentice, and to help employers make the most of the government financial assistance.”

There’s no time to lose, says Committee on Climate Change

A major strengthening of government policies and swift action are needed if the UK is to meet its obligations under the Climate Change Act. The Sixth Carbon Budget, published last month by the Committee on Climate Change, which advises the government, set out an ambitious requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78 per cent by 2035 relative to 1990 if the UK is to reach net zero by 2050.

Few areas are unaffected, from the way we heat our homes and buildings to the vehicles we drive, and from the power we generate to what we eat and how we choose to go on holiday – all come under the spotlight and changes will be needed in order to reduce our carbon emissions.

More than half the emissions savings will come from adopting low-carbon solutions to replace high-carbon options. Proposed measures include phasing out the installation of gas boilers in our homes by 2033, and oil boilers by 2028.

Supply chains will need to scale up rapidly for heat pumps and heat networks, and policies put in place to hugely upscale offshore wind farms to increase electricity generation.

The government will also need to set out its vision for hydrogen’s role, including the publication of its Hydrogen Strategy, likely to be this spring.

People will need to be actively involved to support lower carbon emissions, the report says, but they will support the transition to net zero if they understand what is needed and why, if they have options and if they can be involved in decision-making.

The 400-plus page report sets out in detail the steps that will need to be taken, along with proposed timescales, and it emphasises that there’s no time to lose. It urges the government to set out its plans to meet the Sixth Carbon Budget in the first half of 2021, and set the budget in law, followed by a set of policies and proposals that show how it will meet the budget.

A carbon budget places a restriction on the total amount of greenhouse gases the UK can emit over a five-year period.

HHIC forms holistic groups for future home heating

The HHIC has reorganised its industry working groups to provide a diverse platform for rigorous discussion on the future of UK heat. The Heating & Hot Water Systems Group brings together manufacturers from across the HHIC membership and parts of EUA to form an ongoing strategy for heating systems.

Director Stewart Clements says: “By forming the Heating & Hot Water Systems group, our intention is to look at the wider system, the journey of a home and the consumer proposition. As the industry navigates low-carbon solutions, there will be an overarching heating systems approach in how HHIC works with members and lobbies government.

“A variety of relevant topics require a holistic view and will form the basis for industry discussion in this new group – such as Boiler Plus developments; consumer advice – what advice is required when upgrading or renewing? And hybrids – the stepping stone for off-grid in particular. All are relevant and exciting topics that require a new, joined-up approach.”

Steve Keeton, technologies and training director at Vaillant, and chair of the Heating & Hot Water Systems Group, adds: “As we drive towards the UK’s zero-carbon targets, there are several potential domestic heating pathways to consider. As there will be no silver bullet solution for every use case, we need to consider the methodology to assess, design, install, commission and hand over the best system solution for different property types.

“We must be more consumercentric, as system knowledge and understanding prior to purchase and behaviours after installation can really affect the comfort, efficiency and ultimate performance of the system in the eyes of the homeowner.”

Elaine Lancaster, chief technology and innovation officer at Groupe Atlantic UK, says: “The pathway to low-carbon heating goes far beyond a change to the gas boiler: improved efficiency of homes and the capability of heating system design and control are essential. It’s important for consumers and installers that regulations and compliance are rigorous and, at the same time, straightforward and simple to adopt.”

Worcester Bosch pays tribute after the death of its founder

Worcester Bosch has paid tribute to its founder, Cecil Duckworth, who has died. Recalling the origins of the manufacturer, the company says Cecil had the spark of an idea in 1962 and borrowed £200 from his wife to set up Worcester Engineering.

He pioneered the combi boiler in the UK, growing the company to be the country’s top boiler manufacturer. He found a good cultural fit with Bosch and handed over the reins in 1996, retiring at the age of 59. Cecil then started his second career, building the Worcester Warriors into an established Premiership Rugby Club.

He worked tirelessly in the Worcestershire community, helping many charities and working hard on environmental topics by setting up the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust.

In 2013, he was appointed a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his charitable contributions to the Worcestershire community. The company says: “He was simply one of life’s good guys and he will be sorely missed by all.”

Baxi pledges low-carbon appliances from 2025

Baxi Heating UK and Ireland has committed to a portfolio of cleaner, greener products, that will work with low-carbon fuels by 2025.

Managing director Karen Boswell says: “Future generations will judge us by our actions. Our pledge is to be carbon-neutral in all our operations by 2030, and to lead the phase-out of carbonintensive heating by ensuring every product we make from 2025 will work with low-carbon energy.”

Future products will include hydrogen boilers, heat pumps, smart electric water heating and heat networks, or hydrogen-ready boilers than can be converted after installation.

The announcement places Baxi Heating at the heart of the heating transformation that is required to achieve the UK’s climate targets, says the company.

Karen adds: “We have a responsibility to tackle climate change not only for ourselves, but for future generations. Delivering cleaner and greener heating systems is fundamental to achieving net zero and it will also be central to the growth of our business over the next 10 years.”