Page 30 - Gi_Dec2021Jan2022

igem news

INDUSTRIAL AFFILIATES

COMMUNITY USING HYDROGEN

BLENDED GAS ON A PUBLIC WINLATON, GATESHEAD

NETWORK FOR THE FIRST TIME a blend of up to 23 per cent hydrogen.
Winlaton resident Biba Thompson
said “There has been no difference to
using our gas since the hydrogen was
introduced. I am the sheltered scheme
officer for some housing in the pilot
area and everyone here is enthusiastic
about doing their bit to reverse the
effects for climate change and agrees
that it’s great that our small village in
the North East was chosen for such a
ground-breaking pilot.”
Tim Harwood, Programme
Management and H21 Project Director
at Northern Gas Networks, said: “We’re
delighted to have started supplying
blended gas at Winlaton. The project will
provide more vital evidence about the
SITE OF THE 10-MONTH PILOT SCHEME possibilities of blending hydrogen into
the natural gas network across the UK, as
THE NEXT PHASE of a ground- project delivered by a consortium, a stepping-stone to decarbonising heat
breaking green energy trial that could including partners Northern Gas with no disruption to customers.”
help Britain dramatically cut its carbon Networks, Cadent, Progressive Energy Dr Angela Needle, Director of
emissions and open the door to a low Ltd, Keele University, HSE – Science Strategy at Cadent, said: “Supplying
carbon hydrogen economy has begun. Division and ITM Power. blended hydrogen gas at Winlaton
The HyDeploy project is blending The first phase of HyDeploy saw builds on the successful completion
hydrogen with natural gas on a public 100 homes and around 30 commercial of a trial on a private gas network at
gas network in Winlaton, Gateshead, buildings on a closed network at Keele Keele University. From October 2019
and is being operated by Northern University successfully use the hydrogen until March 2021, customers living in
Gas Networks. blend for a period of 18 months, which 100 homes and 30 university buildings
Heating in the UK is currently ended in the spring 2021. safely received a supply of blended gas
responsible for a third of carbon In a 10-month long pilot, HyDeploy without the need to make any changes
emissions. Because hydrogen produces is now blending up to 20 per cent of to their existing appliances.”
no carbon at the point of use, it hydrogen (by volume) for 668 homes The HSE granted HyDeploy an
is a viable alternative for heating and a primary school in Winlaton. exemption to the current limit of
homes and businesses to achieve the Customers are continuing to use their 0.1 per cent hydrogen in the UK gas
government’s target of net zero carbon gas supply and appliances as normal, network after the project gathered
emissions by 2050. without any changes needed to gas extensive evidence to demonstrate the
HyDeploy is a £22.5 million Ofgem appliances or pipework as current gas hydrogen blend would be both greener
Network Innovation Competition appliances are designed to operate with and safer than natural gas.

ENERGY ASSETS GROUP COMPLETES £690 MILLION REFINANCING SCHEME

THE ENERGY ASSETS GROUP, UK throughout this process. multi-utility service using ground-
leaders in multi-utility metering, data The arrangement will help the breaking technology, data analytics and
analytics and network construction, group to expand its services across innovative processes.
ownership and operation, has core markets and build on the success Colin Lynch, Chief Executive Officer at
completed a £690 million refinancing of a vertically integrated business Energy Assets Group, said: “This finance
package, including £185 million model. The group works with major package will create a springboard
of Capex facilities. They have been energy suppliers and partners with for future growth as we ramp up our
supported by their shareholders the UK’s biggest brands, house service proposition in step with the
Asterion Industrial Partners, EDF Invest builders, third parties and public decarbonisation of the economy.
and Swiss Life Asset Management AG sector bodies, providing an end-to-end, “We see significant opportunities

30

18/11/2021 11:34
IGEMNews_IndAffliates.indd 1 18/11/2021 11:34
IGEMNews_IndAffliates.indd 1