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igem news

The upcoming Future Homes The first live pilot to inject zero academics and policy advisors to assess
Standard, once implemented, will ban the evidence base and develop informed
fossil-fuel heating in all new homes by carbon hydrogen into the gas recommendations on the future of the
2025. However, it is not yet clear what network is now underway, gas grid.
will replace other initiatives due to end heating homes and buildings at These recommendations will directly
in 2020, such as the Renewable Heat Keele University. Gas appliance shape government policy over the
Incentive. A recent report from the UK coming months and contribute to a low-
Energy Research Centre (UKERC), which manufacturers are also carbon energy transition strategy that
reviewed energy policy throughout stepping up to the plate, with will capitalise on what the gas industry
2019, urged government to develop some having already launched has to offer.
and redesign these policies to focus on their first hydrogen boiler Last year, IGEM sponsored and
delivering a range of low-carbon heat co-authored some prominent
technology solutions aligned to the 2050 prototypes policy reports including: a piece in
net zero target, including a combination partnership with other PEIs and the
of biomethane, hydrogen, heat pumps HyNTS and Project Cavendish) we HSE’s science division on assessing
and district heating. have seen the gas industry come the engineering risks of transitioning
It is anticipated that the upcoming together, demonstrating the kind to hydrogen; the Policy Connect Future
budget in March will outline this year’s of leadership, collaboration and Gas Series Part 3 report, Uncomfortable
spending commitments to help achieve knowledge sharing that will propel Home Truths, which called for an urgent
the UK’s climate goals. However, until the industry towards a successful low low carbon heat strategy; and the
the government sets out a detailed carbon future. Hydrogen’s potential first joint publication by the National
energy strategy, and specifically its heat for the transport industry, coupled Engineering Policy Centre, which
policy roadmap, there will be continued with the advancement of hydrogen called for investment in areas such
uncertainty on the future of the gas fuel cell technology, have led to as skills, innovation and clean energy
industry and the feasibility of reaching growing interest in hydrogen’s wider technologies.
our 2050 net zero target. applications. These prospects are Launched this year, IGEM’s dedicated
further supporting the emergence policy and research hub provides a
How is the gas industry readying itself? of a flourishing hydrogen economy centralised resource for our members
The gas industry has already started alongside other ‘green gas’ solutions, and stakeholders to find out more about
its transformational journey towards such as biomethane and BioSNG. developments in the gas policy space.
a low-carbon future, with 2019 seeing We expect the hydrogen Providing details of upcoming policy
considerable research and project conversation to gain further momentum events and our policy and research
activity across hydrogen production throughout 2020 and for the gas collaborations, the hub includes a future
and blending. The gas networks are industry to continue to play a pivotal of gas research library, where visitors
driving an industry-led solution role in shaping policy developments will be signposted to publications from
to the heating emissions problem, and our energy future. a broad range of technical and policy-
exploring hydrogen’s role in delivering focused organisations, institutions and
decarbonisation at the lowest cost and What is IGEM doing to support the industry? research centres.
with the least disruption to consumers. IGEM is playing a key role in supporting IGEM strives to share knowledge
Gas network companies have the evidence base for the application and understanding of hydrogen and
established a range of hydrogen of hydrogen in the gas network, whilst other low-carbon gases, and over
exploratory projects across the UK working with industry stakeholders and the course of the year we will be
looking at blending hydrogen into the government to help shape energy policy. publishing a series of policy briefings
existing gas grid, creating new 100 As well as developing the first and statements on subjects central to
per cent hydrogen networks and the hydrogen technical standards, IGEM the decarbonisation agenda. So please
deploying hydrogen alongside CCUS is facilitating a change in regulations watch this space!
capability. The first live pilot to inject for the quality of gas allowed in the This will most certainly be a pivotal
zero carbon hydrogen into the gas transmission and distribution networks. year for energy policy and the future
network is now underway, heating Our role in the government’s of the gas industry, and IGEM will
homes and buildings at Keele University. Hydrogen Programme Development continue to support the industry and our
Gas appliance manufacturers are also Group sees us working directly with members through our technical work
stepping up to the plate, with some gas network companies, safety experts, and by championing the potential of
having already launched their first low- carbon and renewable gases among
hydrogen boiler prototypes. The gas our government stakeholders.
industry, policymakers and industry
stakeholders will be watching with great Check out the IGEM policy and research
interest throughout 2020 as the findings hub now at bit.ly/igempolicy
of this work and other projects emerge.
Across the various projects (H21,
HyDeploy, Hy4Heat, H100, HyNet,

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