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a sustainable future for all

the potential to deliver up to seven per measures and building retrofit to be echoed in the Heat and Buildings
cent emissions reduction from the grid. effective across the UK. Recent research Strategy. The government must now
The use of hydrogen in transportation on decarbonising heat in buildings deliver on its commitment to put
is growing steadily. Currently there are examines the challenge of retrofitting consumer welfare and choice at the
over 140 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in old housing stock with low carbon heart of the transition.
the UK, including cars, buses, trucks heating technologies, stating that heat
and trains, and the deployment of the pump-only systems could be unsuitable WHAT IS IGEM’S CONTRIBUTION?
UK hydrogen mobility programme for up to 54 per cent of the existing UK Supporting the gas industry
could see this rise to 6,000 by 2025. housing stock. and our members
The UK government recognises the Historically, the heat decarbonisation IGEM members and the engineering
potential for hydrogen to deliver zero challenge was presented as a choice community as a whole are at the
emissions technology for transport and between large-scale electrification or the forefront of making a sustainable gas
has recently announced projects for utilisation of low carbon gases – each future a reality.
zero emission road freight trials and with their own merits and challenges. IGEM is dedicated to supporting them
hydrogen transport pilots. However more recently, we see to achieve this. The intrinsic value of
growing support for an integrated, IGEM as a professional engineering
DECARBONISING HEAT ‘whole system’ approach to meeting institution lies embedded within its
There are various potential solutions the energy transition challenge, with membership; to provide opportunities
for low carbon heating. Those with the the UK government now supporting a for UK-based and international
potential to play a significant role in portfolio of low carbon technologies members to come together, share
decarbonising heat include hydrogen, and projects, looking across power, gas, knowledge, debate and learn from
biomethane, heat networks, heat pumps heat and transport. cutting edge developments around the
and hybrid heating systems. The policy approaches to date indicate world.
IGEM supports proposals to use that the UK government is keeping its IGEM is supporting initiatives such
the existing network of gas pipelines options open; investing in low carbon as Gas Goes Green, which brings
to carry low carbon gases, such as technologies, R&D and developing the together all five of the UK’s gas network
biomethane and hydrogen blends, markets to support both electrification of companies to create the world’s first
working towards the eventual use of heat and hydrogen for heating. zero-carbon gas grid. The initiative aims
100 per cent hydrogen. to speed up the switch from natural gas
Crucially, hydrogen produces zero to a hydrogen and biomethane supply
carbon at the point of use and forms “Crucially, hydrogen produces for the 85 per cent of UK households
the basis of the gas industry’s proposed zero carbon at the point of use connected to the gas grid.
pathway to a sustainable gas future. and forms the basis of the gas In turn, enabling people to use their
Evidence is also pointing to significantly heating, hot water and cooking appliances
reduced NO emissions from hydrogen industry’s proposed pathway to almost exactly as they are used today.
X
boilers, compared to the most modern a sustainable gas future”
natural gas boilers on the market today. Safety and technical leadership
Using electrified technologies The recently published Heat and The UK has an excellent gas safety
such as heat pumps, powered using Buildings Strategy reiterates its record and it is critical that we maintain
renewable electricity, is a strategy commitment to ramping up heat pump this record throughout the transition to
that the UK government has already installations and phasing out fossil a low carbon gas network.
embraced as a way of making near term fuel heating in the near term. Strategic The resilience of the current gas
reductions in carbon emissions. This decisions on the implementation of system must also be maintained, where
approach will put significant additional hydrogen for heating are due in 2026, historically, customers experience an
strain on electricity capacity, and it following the outcome of various strands unplanned gas outage only once every
is scarcely recognised that additional of work, including 100 per cent hydrogen 140 years.
electricity demand is increasingly being heating trials, hydrogen blending in IGEM will continue to provide technical
accommodated by generation from the existing gas network, consultation leadership on gas safety and quality
reciprocating gas engines. on hydrogen-ready boilers, as well as throughout the transition, underpinned
Electricity generation from gas today extensive research and testing. by industry technical standards. At
flexibly ranges from 7-70 per cent of Regardless of the technologies used the core of IGEM’s work lies a formal,
the mix at any one time. The advantage to achieve heat decarbonisation, it is robust process for the creation,
of gas is its ability to balance daily imperative that consumers are put at review and further development of
and seasonal demand variations and the forefront of the energy transition the technical standards and guidance
provide flexibility in electricity supply. if we are to reach net zero. The documents upon which our gas
In the future, low carbon gas could transition is likely to cause disruption industry safely runs its operations.
play an important role in reducing to households and require consumer This process is strictly governed
peak demand on the electricity system behaviour change, so offering consumer and supported by IGEM members
and increasing the deployment of choice and ensuring they are closely and technical stakeholders, including
renewable technologies through new consulted and supported throughout industry regulators, and involves
methods, including power to gas and the journey will be key to its success. industry wide consultations to achieve
hybridisation of end use technologies Crucially, the energy transition must consensus and ensure best practice.
involving a combination of electricity ensure that low income households
and low carbon gases. and vulnerable consumers do not Read the full policy paper
The use of heat pumps will require disproportionately bear the cost of Engineering a Sustainable Gas Future
significant additional energy efficiency low carbon energy policies, messaging at www.igem.org.uk

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