UK test proves case for 20% hydrogen: Hydeploy
The first phase of a UK study by Keele University has shown that hydrogen might be blended safely with natural gas in a 20%-80% mix, which would "help Britain dramatically cut its carbon emissions and open the door to a low-carbon hydrogen economy," the HyDeploy project operators said September 8.
The trial will now be extended as the Health & Safety Executive has already approved blending hydrogen with natural gas on the public gas network.
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Pipeline operator Cadent, the project leader, said: "HyDeploy is a ground-breaking collaboration and has demonstrated very clearly that consumers can safely receive up to 20% hydrogen blended with natural gas, without the need to make any changes to their existing appliances."
Adopting hydrogen blending across the gas networks would save carbon emissions equivalent to removing 2.5mn cars from the roads, Cadent said. "Importantly customers experienced no disruption and felt positively towards using hydrogen blends and the trial. Blending hydrogen into the natural gas network is a critical stepping-stone in helping the UK reach Net Zero by 2050.”
A Keele resident who volunteered to be part of the trial said the mixture "had no impact on any of my gas appliances, and I carried on cooking and using my heating like normal.”
A spokesman for Keele University said: “HyDeploy has been a perfect fit for Keele University’s sustainability ambitions as an institution we are proud to have been able to use our campus and involve our staff and residents in this landmark project.”
The success of the trial at Keele University has paved the way for a larger pilot project at Winlaton, near Gateshead where 668 houses, a school and some small businesses have been receiving hydrogen blended gas on a network operated by Northern Gas Networks (NGN) since early August 2021.