Scotland’s green hydrogen-to-homes project will be a ‘world first’

Participating customers will use hydrogen boilers, heaters and cooking appliances in their homes during the four-and-a-half-year initial trial. Called H100 Fife, phase one of the project will connect an initial 300 homes in Levenmouth to a new hydrogen network from the end of 2022, with potential expansion of up to 1,000 homes following completion of phase one.

Energy regulator Ofgem is to award up to £18mn from its annual Network Innovation Competition to support the development of the new hydrogen network, and its decision triggers a further investment of £7mn from the Scottish Government. SGN’s shareholders and Britain’s three other gas distribution networks are also providing funding for the project.

The project should deliver evidence that proves hydrogen as a viable and zero carbon alternative to heat the 23mn homes currently fitted with natural gas boilers, says SGN. The project supports the ambition of a pilot hydrogen town before the end of the decade.

Meanwhile, boiler manufacturers Baxi Heating and Worcester Bosch have installed hydrogen-burning boilers at ‘HyStreet’, in specially built demonstration houses at DNV GL’s specialist test site at Spadeadam in Northumberland. The site has been used to test and prove the safety of converting homes and gas networks to hydrogen.

The project is part of H21, also a Network Innovation Competition project sponsored by Ofgem. Northern Gas Networks is leading the project with partners Cadent, Scottish Gas Networks, Wales & West Utilities, National Grid, DNV GL and the Health and Safety Executive’s science division. H21 is demonstrating how existing natural gas networks can be repurposed to safely carry 100% hydrogen.

For the first demonstration, both Worcester Bosch and Baxi Heating have installed combi boilers into the houses on HyStreet. The boilers have been developed as part of the government-funded Hy4Heat programme, which is also supporting the development of hydrogen-ready gas cookers, fires and gas meters.

Around 85% of UK homes currently rely on natural gas for heating and hot water, so repurposing the natural gas grid for use with hydrogen would mean a low disruption option for householders to decarbonise their heating, says Baxi Heating.

Tim Harwood, Northern Gas Networks’ Project Director for H21 said: ‘Seeing the boilers in situ at Spadeadam is an exciting step in the journey to realising our goal of a gas network transporting 100% hydrogen to customers. The hydrogen boiler looks and feels just like the natural gas version we all have today and is just as user-friendly, showing that a transition could cause minimal disruption to customers.’ 

Photo: Baxi Heating and Worcester Bosch