Green light for first hydrogen blending on a public gas network

future of energy

  • Winlaton, Gateshead to become first community to receive hydrogen blend via the public natural gas network
  • 668 houses, a school and some small businesses will all receive the blend
  • The project will start in August and run for approximately 10 months
The next phase of a ground-breaking green energy trial that could help Britain dramatically cut its carbon emissions and open the door to a low-carbon hydrogen economy has been given the go-ahead by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
 
The HyDeploy project will blend hydrogen with natural gas on a public gas network in Winlaton, Gateshead operated by Northern Gas Networks.
 
Unlike natural gas, which is responsible for over 30% of carbon emissions, hydrogen produces no carbon at the point of use, making it a viable alternative for heating homes and businesses to achieve the Government’s target of Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.
 
HyDeploy is a £20m Ofgem Network Innovation Competition project delivered by a consortium, including partners Northern Gas Networks, Cadent, Progressive Energy Ltd, Keele University, HSE – Science Division and ITM Power.
 
The first phase of HyDeploy saw 100 homes and around 30 commercial buildings at Keele University successfully use the hydrogen blend for a period of 18 months which ended in the spring.
 
In a ten-month long pilot, due to start in August, HyDeploy will blend up to 20% of hydrogen (by volume) for 668 homes, a school and some small business in Winlaton.
 
Customers will continue to use gas as they do today, without any changes needed to gas appliances or pipework as current gas appliances are designed to operate with a blend of up to 23% hydrogen.
 
Dr Angele Needle, Director of Strategy at Cadent said “HSE approval to allow customers in Winlaton to receive hydrogen blended gas builds on the successful completion of a trial on a private network at Keele University. Between October 2019 and March 2021. One hundred homes and 30 university buildings were safely supplied blended gas without the need for customers to make any changes to their existing appliances.”
 
Dr Angele Needle, Director of Strategy at Cadent said “HSE approval to allow customers in Winlaton to receive hydrogen blended gas builds on the successful completion of a trial on a private network at Keele University. Between October 2019 and March 2021. One hundred homes and 30 university buildings were safely supplied blended gas without the need for customers to make any changes to their existing appliances.”
 
Tim Harwood, Head of Programme Management and H21 Project Director at Northern Gas Networks, said: “We’re delighted the HSE has given us the go-ahead for the next phase of HyDeploy at Winlaton. The project will provide more vital evidence about the possibilities of blending hydrogen into the natural gas network across the UK, as a stepping-stone to decarbonising heat with no disruption to customers’
 
“We’ve engaged with the community of Winlaton over the past 18 months and undertaken gas check on their appliances to reassure residents that they can continue to use their gas as normal whilst playing a vital role in the decarbonisation of the gas network ”
 
The HSE granted HyDeploy an exemption to the current limit of 0.1% hydrogen in the UK gas network after the project gathered extensive evidence to demonstrate the hydrogen blend will be ‘as safe as natural gas’.

ENDS

 

About HyDeploy at Winlaton from Northern Gas Networks on Vimeo.

Fast facts
  •  Heating homes and industry accounts for nearly half of all energy use in the UK and one third of the country’s carbon emissions. 
  • If hydrogen were blended with natural gas across the UK at a similar level to HyDeploy, it could save around 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year, the equivalent of taking 2.5 million cars off the road.
  • Hydrogen was a major component in ‘town gas’, gas created from coal and used widely throughout Britain before the discovery of North Sea gas in the 1960s. Up to 60% of the gas (by volume) being used by consumers was hydrogen. 
  • Across Europe, permitted levels of hydrogen in the gas supply vary, from 0.1% in the UK to up to 12% in parts of the Netherlands
 HYDeploy-(1).png
 
HyDeploy is being delivered by the HyDeploy consortium, led by Cadent.  The partners include Northern Gas Networks, Progressive Energy Ltd, Keele University, HSE – Science Division and ITM Power.
www.hydeploy.co.uk
 

Cadent

Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy.  We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change.  Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency.   Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing. 

Future of Gas: Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050. That means we’re backing the introduction of hydrogen as a low carbon alternative to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower carbon alternative offered by hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.

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Media contacts

Sian Sansum

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