UK gas network set to support hydrogen fuel use

Britain’s national gas network is now ready to accommodate hydrogen as a fuel for powering homes and industries, according to a new report released on Wednesday by National Gas.

The report is based on a year-long trial that tested hydrogen blending within the gas transmission network, which is owned and operated by National Gas.

The trial evaluated the blending of hydrogen into previously operational assets from the national transmission network, beginning with a 2 per cent hydrogen mix with natural gas and scaling up to 100 per cent.

The findings showed that there were “no issues” during the first phase of the project and no significant obstacles to repurposing the network for hydrogen use.

The trial demonstrates that replacing natural gas with hydrogen could significantly reduce carbon emissions and lessen dependency on fossil fuels.

The project has now entered its second phase, which will focus on the challenges of compressing hydrogen using existing assets. This includes exploring the potential to repurpose gas turbines for hydrogen use at compressor stations.

Jon Butterwork, Chief Executive of National Gas, commented on the findings, stating, “Today’s report presents a promising picture on hydrogen blending, which can help the government meet its ambition of making the country a clean energy superpower as we progress to 100 per cent green hydrogen, and all while using our existing infrastructure.”

The previous UK government supported the idea of blending up to 20 per cent hydrogen by volume in the gas distribution network, given the proper infrastructure.

With the success of the initial phase of the trial, the UK is now one step closer to integrating hydrogen into its national energy strategy, marking a significant move towards sustainable energy solutions.

Attribution: Reuters.