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Hydrogen news
Government kick-starts the UK’s hydrogen future
The publication last month of the Hydrogen Strategy recognises the important role that the low-carbon gas could play in heating our homes. Here, we set out the highlights and take the industry’s temperature on what they think of it.
The government has fired the starting gun on the race to put hydrogen into 3 million homes by 2030 with the publication of its long-awaited Hydrogen Strategy.
The strategy recognises that hydrogen will play a critical role in decarbonising the UK’s heating, as well as in shipping, lorries and trains, suggesting that 20-35 per cent of the UK’s energy consumption by 2050 could be hydrogen-based.
Early next year, the government will launch a hydrogen sector development action plan that sets out how it will support companies to secure supply chain opportunities, skills and jobs in hydrogen. And it will consult on how to design a £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, which aims to support the commercial deployment of new low-carbon hydrogen production plants across the UK. It will also consult on how to help reduce the cost of producing hydrogen, favouring a model similar to that which established offshore wind production.
Other measures set out in the strategy include: • Outlining a twin-track approach to supporting multiple technologies, including ‘green’ electrolytic and ‘blue’ carbon captureenabled hydrogen production, and committing to providing further detail in 2022 on the government’s production strategy • Working with industry to develop a UK standard for low-carbon hydrogen, giving certainty to producers and users that the hydrogen the
UK produces is consistent with net zero while supporting the deployment of hydrogen across the country • A review to support the development of the necessary network and storage infrastructure • Working with industry to assess the safety, technical feasibility, and cost effectiveness of mixing 20 per cent hydrogen into the existing gas supply, which could reduce emissions by 7 per cent.
But the future role that hydrogen could play decarbonising heat won’t be finally decided until 2026. The government says it’s working with the HSE and Ofgem on hydrogen heating trials, the results of which, along with the results of a wider research and development testing programme, will guide its decision. If these are positive, it says hydrogen could be playing a significant role in heating people’s homes and businesses, powering cars, cookers and boilers by 2035.
The industry reacted broadly positively to the strategy, welcoming the recognition that no single-technology solution will be used to decarbonise the nation’s homes and businesses.
Antony Green, hydrogen
director at National Grid, said: “The transition to a green economy will require a mix of technologies and hydrogen will play a vital role. This strategy signals the UK’s commitment to hydrogen and provides the certainty needed to boost consumer and investor confidence and support commercial solutions.
“Importantly, unlocking the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy solution requires significant pace and innovation to scale up production, and the guidance from government will be key to triggering the investment and buy-in needed to achieve this.”
Mark Wilkins, technologies and training director at
Vaillant, said: “Climate change is happening now, so we believe there will be no silver bullet solution and there will be a mix of technologies needed to help reduce emissions. Heat pumps are a tried and tested alternative low-carbon heating solution that is available today.
“While we are working with the industry to bring hydrogen solutions for home heating, homeowners, installers and housebuilders should look to start their decarbonisation journey with heat pumps. We are eager to see more clarity on heat pump funding and hydrogen within the long-awaited Heat and Buildings Strategy in September.”
However, the Environmental Audit Committee criticised the fact that funding and the definition of low-carbon hydrogen have still not been ironed out.
The committee chairman
Philip Dunne MP said: “It is disappointing that only now are the necessary consultations being launched on how to overcome funding issues and how to define low-carbon hydrogen.
“These critical issues should have been ironed out in advance of this Strategy.”
Jeff House, head of External Affairs, Baxi Heating “We are optimistic that we will see hydrogenready boilers feature prominently in this autumn’s Heat and Buildings Strategy.”
Carl Arntzen, CEO, Worcester Bosch
WiFi Inside
First look at the hydrogen home
Homes with appliances running on 100 per cent hydrogen are now open for people to see for themselves – and Registered Gas Engineer took an exclusive tour to find out more.
The semi-detached houses in Low Thornley, Gateshead, are the first chance for people to see zero-carbon hydrogen appliances in action.
The first thing that struck us is that it all looks so, well, normal. Inside the two properties, built by a partnership of Northern Gas Network and Cadent working with the government, are familiar-looking new boilers, hobs, cookers, fires and even a barbecue. Boilers from Baxi and Worcester Bosch are up and running, along with fires, cookers and hobs developed by companies working on the Hy4Heat projects.
The showcase homes are intended to last for three years, although they could go on for longer, exhibiting the use of hydrogen appliances in a real-world setting.
Baxi and Worcester Bosch have both been working on hydrogen boilers for some time, investing in research and development to create prototypes with support from Hy4Heat, the government’s programme to establish whether if it is possible, safe and convenient to replace natural gas with hydrogen and prepare for community trials.
The 100 per cent hydrogen boiler from Worcester, for example, is fundamentally its Greenstar 8000. The boiler flame is almost invisible and, because no carbon is emitted, is detected via UV. The only changes inside are the burner, which has been adapted for hydogen’s faster flame speed; the gas mixing valve, and the control board plug. And, of course, the only products of combustion are oxygen, water vapour and very low levels of Nox – lower than the amount given off by natural gas boilers currently.
In the event that the government gives the green light to running on pure hydrogen, these are the only components that would need to be changed in hydrogen-ready boiler in a process that should take around an hour.
Another advantage of hydrogen-ready boilers is the lack of disruption to the rest of the home during conversion. Radiators will work as they always have done, although Martyn Bridges, director of Technical Communication and Product Management at Worcester Bosch, says work is currently under way reviewing whether joints on 22mm pipework may need to change from compression to soldered fittings.
Worcester and Baxi have both created their ‘hydrogen-ready’
boilers as a natural stepping stone to 100 per cent hydrogen. Jeff House, head of external affairs at Baxi, says: “By rolling out hydrogen-ready boilers it is anticipated that we can prepopulate a large proportion of the UK housing stock, thereby making an eventual future conversion faster, easier and lower cost.”
On to the living room then, where a warm glow was coming from the balanced-flue fire. When a hydrogen-powered fire starts up, first there is a purge to disperse the internal build-up of hydrogen before ignition. The HyFires consortium of three manufacturers have also working been on open-chimney and glass-fronted models.
Finally, it was time to put the kettle on. Here the flame does look a bit different from the crisp blue flame we’re used to seeing on hobs. As they get going, the sharp flames look distinctly orange – this is because no hydrocarbons are being burned, we’re told, and the flame is very sharp because hydrogen is a light gas and so the PoCs lift vertically. As long as the tea tastes the same, that’s all good with us. n
What’s the difference?
Jeff House, head of external affairs at Baxi, says: “While looking the same and sharing many of the same basic components, there are some key internal differences to accommodate hydrogen combustion in boilers. When combusted, pure hydrogen reacts differently from natural gas, with a faster flame speed and different Wobbe index range, therefore requiring some adaptations. There is no carbon element present, so it is not possible to use an ionisation current for flame detection.
“As such, there are a number of adaptations to the internal gas-facing components. In addition, the combustion dew point of hydrogen is different from that of natural gas, which means we see more condensate produced – this is dealt with through the usual internal trap and discharge pipe method.
“But there are no visible differences to consumers. The boiler looks, performs and operates almost exactly the same as a natural gas boiler.”
What’s the latest on hydrogen?
Registered Gas Engineer rounds up the latest developments and thinking about how hydrogen could help to decarbonise the nation’s heating.
AMicroGrid at Spadeadam in Cumbria is helping gas distribution networks understand how to transport up to 100 per cent hydrogen.
The MicroGrid was purposebuilt by DNV and led by Northern Gas Networks (NGN) as part of the H21 project. It’s made up of around 1km of pipework of varying pressure tiers and diameters, which will link to three demonstration houses featuring hydrogen boilers.
It is being used to carry out rigorous testing and make recommendations for any operational and maintenance procedures that will need to be updated for a hydrogen gas network.
Purging, venting, repairs and maintenance will all be tested to validate the suitability of existing procedures, as well as validating gas flow and pressure modelling software. Pressure and flow within the test network can be monitored remotely, and testing will continue for nine months.
Looking at the detail
Ryan Mallinder, Northern Gas Networks’ H21 project manager, says: “While the H21 project has already established that it is technically possible to repurpose the gas network to transport hydrogen, the MicroGrid starts to look at the more detailed aspects of operating a hydrogen gas network on a day-to-day basis and any changes we need to make from existing natural gas networks.
“As well as furthering our research into operations, the MicroGrid can be used for engineers to learn any new skills and competencies needed for operating a hydrogen gas network. It can also be used by suppliers to develop innovative new solutions and any tooling that may be needed as we move towards 100 per cent hydrogen networks.”
Competence
The newly published Hydrogen Competency Framework by Energy & Utility Skills sets out how to ensure that installing and maintaining hydrogen appliances will be completed safely by hydrogen-competent Gas Safe registered engineers.
It provides details of the skills and competencies that will be required for gas engineers to work with hydrogen, recognising that although they will need relatively few additional skills, they will need to increase their knowledge and understanding of hydrogen significantly.
The required skills, alongside IGEM’s interim Hydrogen Technical Standard, form the basis of the Hydrogen Transition Training Specification – which will enable consistency of training and industry recognition – and the Hydrogen Assessment Module, which will enable a hydrogen competence category to be added to Gas Safe Register.
Put consumers first
A major new report by Cadent takes a consumer-centric angle on the path to the decarbonisation of the UK’s homes. Its Green Print – Future Heat for Everyone – says the ‘right’ answer to the transition of heating, including the role that hydrogen could play, will need to consider consumers’ wants and needs: • Ensuring they are central to decisions on the future of heat – this means mandating the changes that are needed and then allowing consumers to have their say about how that it delivered • Ending unnecessary ‘format wars’ – work should focus on where different technologies will be deployed and how to help consumers in the transition, rather than arguing about which technology will ‘win’ • Understanding people’s views on their heating and starting to engage with them early • Being upfront with consumers about how much transition will cost them and how it will be paid for. Discussion about decarbonisation so far has ignored consumer behaviour, the report says in its foreword: “When consumers don’t feel confident, they don’t go ahead anyway, they simply don’t purchase.
“Decarbonising heat will only succeed if the market is designed for consumers. Significant barriers include cost, disruption, question marks about performance and a lack of clear process. Each needs to be overcome.”
Price promise on H-ready boilers
Ahydrogen-ready boiler will cost no more than its natural gas equivalent, major boiler manufacturers have pledged.
Baxi, Ideal, Vaillant and Worcester Bosch also say that any hydrogen-ready boiler that was installed initially to run on natural gas will take no more than one hour’s labour to convert it to hydrogen.
EUA chief executive Mike Foster says the price promise is a major boost to consumers and the fight against climate change. “Consumers want to do their bit to reduce the impact of their homes and help deliver a greener future, but are concerned about the cost of some low-carbon technologies. This price promise from the Big Four ensures that consumers will be able to access an affordable low-carbon heat and hot water solution.”
The price promise will force many industry experts to rethink their models, says Mike. “The Committee on Climate Change, which advises the government, assumed that a hydrogen-ready boiler would cost £100 more than a natural gas boiler.
“This is another example of British companies leading the way on net zero. The manufacturers have been very clever in using existing components and technologies to keep the price of hydrogenready boilers down. What’s more, hydrogen-ready boilers will work in the same way as natural gas boilers, with no changes required to pipework, radiators or the installation of a water tank.
“The boiler manufacturers have developed a boiler that works; they support a 2025 mandatory roll-out of the technology and now they’ve found a way to keep costs down. The Big Four boiler companies compete ferociously against each other, but they have come together for the benefit of UK consumers and the good of the planet.”
