Whitby residents to get choice over joining hydrogen trial

All 2,000 residents living in the proposed location of the Hydrogen Village in Whitby, Ellesmere Port, have been given a choice over whether to take part in the trial.

Cadent and British Gas have written to them with an opt-in/ opt-out offer after 10 months of in-person and virtual consultation. Cadent says it has acted on the feedback received and has confirmed that in its proposal, which sets out how the programme will run, residents will be able to choose whether to be involved in the programme and use hydrogen to heat their homes or stay on natural gas.

To deliver this, Cadent proposes to lay a parallel gas main in Whitby. The existing gas main will transport hydrogen to the properties that opt into the programme, and the newly laid main will supply natural gas to any properties that opt out.

Its head of hydrogen customer

Marc Clarke says: “We have been in listening mode throughout this entire consultation period.

“We have heard a lot of things that residents like about the programme and equally things that they would like us to change.

“There has been a broad church of opinions that have come from right across the local community. This input is vitally important to how we shape our plans and submission, and we have always stated that we will only do what is right for the community. We have acted on what we have heard, and we believe we are doing the right thing.”

As part of the new proposal, Cadent and British Gas outlined a wide range of benefits available to residents in recognition of their time and assistance in the programme, including:

• Brand new hydrogen appliances, installed and maintained free

• Price matching of hydrogen to natural gas for the entire programme duration

• £2,500 or the equivalent in home energy efficiency improvements

• A new home Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

• Reimbursement of 50 per cent of the cost of appliances replaced (if under 3 years old)

• British Gas Homecare Complete and gas appliance cover during the trial

• An assurance that any increase in home insurance is covered and paid for

• Free central heating filter, Hive smart heating thermostat, powerflushing, and installation of TRVs.

Cadent also confirmed that it will convert all residents back to natural gas at the end of the trial, removing hydrogen appliances and installing brand new natural gas appliances free of charge, as it reconnects residents to the natural gas supply.

Earn Amazon vouchers with Worcester Bosch

Worcester Bosch has launched its ‘Fit More’ promotion, which gives Excelerate loyalty scheme members the chance to receive Amazon vouchers when they install and register additional boilers until 30 September 2023.

For every additional boiler fitted, gas engineers will receive a £50 Amazon gift card, three or more will receive £150 and six or more will receive a £300 gift card.

To take part, just ‘activate’ your participation in your Excelerate account. All additional installations must be registered on Excelerate between 3 April and 30 September. www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/ professional/promotions

The manufacturer is also now giving a seven-year guarantee on its Greenstar 2000 boilers. A system filter is encouraged with each install, but this does not need to be a Worcester Bosch Greenstar filter.