National Grid has announced plans to launch a £10mn trial project to explore how hydrogen gas could be used to heat homes and deliver green energy to industry.
On 5 August, it confirmed that, partnering with Northern Gas Networks (NGN) and Fluxys Belgium, it will build a first of its kind offline hydrogen test facility in the UK. Delivered by DNV GL, it will be built from a range of decommissioned assets, creating a representative network that will be used to trial hydrogen and allow for accurate results to be analysed. It will then see blends of hydrogen up to 100% tested at transmission pressures to see how the assets perform.
Plans have been submitted to Ofgem and, should funding be awarded, construction is targeted to begin in 2021 with testing following in 2022.
Antony Green, Project Director for Hydrogen at National Grid, said: “If we truly want to reach a net zero decarbonised future, we need to replace methane with green alternatives like hydrogen. Sectors such as heat are difficult to decarbonise, and the importance of the gas networks to the UK’s current energy supply means trial projects like this are crucial if we are to deliver low carbon energy, reliably and safely to all consumers.”
