Britain’s proposed hydrogen village trial scrapped
Image: NGN
The British government has announced that the proposed hydrogen heating village trial in Redcar cannot go ahead as the main source of hydrogen supply will not be available.
As such, the government in a statement says it is not in a position to provide support for the trial, which was being advanced by gas operator Northern Gas Networks.
Nevertheless, the statement continues, the government believes that low carbon hydrogen may have a role to play in heat decarbonisation, alongside heat pumps and heat networks, in slower time in some locations.
Therefore a decision is still planned in 2026 on whether, and if so how, hydrogen will contribute to heating decarbonisation.
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This will be based on evidence from wider research, development and testing and the H100 Fife neighbourhood trial, as well as similar trials across Europe.
In a statement NGN expressed disappointment at the decision, adding: “We know this news will be disappointing to the residents and businesses who expressed their support for the trial, as well as the wider community who were set to benefit from the investment and jobs that the project would bring.”
A study estimated potential benefits of the trial at over £300 million (US$382 million).
The proposed hydrogen village trial, which was planned to deliver hydrogen to up to 2,000 homes, has had a chequered background.
In July 2023, the proposal from Cadent for a hydrogen village in Whitby in Ellesmere Port on the Cheshire coast was rejected due to public opposition.
With that the Redcar proposal on the Yorkshire coast became the preferred one, but it also has faced similar objection, primarily due to the safety concerns around the use of hydrogen and possible increased costs.
That was despite NGN’s assurance that safety would not be compromised and the announcement – made just days previously – that those taking part would receive a comprehensive package including free new hydrogen appliances with free servicing and maintenance, energy efficiency upgrades, a participation payment and guarantees that bills would not increase.
The H100 Fife trial, which is being led by SGN, is planned to bring renewable hydrogen for heating and cooking into around 300 homes on Scotland’s east coast in mid-2024.
The trial will utilise hydrogen from a dedicated electrolysis plant, powered by a nearby offshore wind turbine, and run to 2027.
Hydrogen blending supported
In parallel with the hydrogen village decision, the government also announced a policy decision to support blending of up to 20% hydrogen into the country’s gas distribution networks.
The decision, which is likely to prove equally controversial, follows a consultation, with the government concluding that based on the current evidence, there is potential strategic and economic value in supporting such blending.
However, with industry trials on blending ongoing, the evidence will need to be assessed before any steps to implement blending are taken.
This decision will consider any implications from the safety assessment on blending’s feasibility and economic case, the government states.
The government also has indicated it intends to separately assess the case for supporting blending into the gas transmission networks based on evidence gathered from National Gas’s ‘FutureGrid’ project trials.
The project, which is being undertaken at DNV’s Spadeadam test facility in Cumbria, is currently testing the use of hydrogen in an offline high pressure test facility constructed using decommissioned gas transmission assets.
The aim is to gain a full understanding of working with hydrogen and to develop the processes and procedures to run a national hydrogen transmission network.
A wide range of tests are planned with hydrogen blends of 2%, 5% and 20%, as well as 100% hydrogen.
Other tests include the fuelling of existing gas compressors with hydrogen blends and deblending for the supply of hydrogen to the transport sector.
