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and for power stations to generate
electricity; currently 85 per cent of
homes and 40 per cent of the UK’s
electricity relies on gas. The reason
we’ve continued to use methane
is because it’s a readily available
resource, it’s cost effective and a
cleaner alternative to the coal that we
historically relied on for heating and
to generate electricity. However, when
methane burns it still gives off carbon,
which contributes to climate change.
Why hydrogen?
Now the focus is on decarbonising our
gas industry and hydrogen provides
the solution as, when it combusts, or
burns, the only by-product it emits
is water. But, for hydrogen to be a
viable alternative, we need to be able
to produce it at scale and adapt our
current infrastructure.

Hydrogen is the most
abundant element in the
universe, making up 90 per
cent of all atoms, But while it’s
present in nearly all molecules
in living things, on Earth, as a
gas, it’s very scarce

Hydrogen can be produced from
methane in large volumes, by using
one of two primary methods. Steam
methane reformation is the most
common method for producing bulk
hydrogen and accounts for most of
the world’s production. This method
uses a reformer, which reacts steam
at a high temperature and pressure
with methane and a nickel catalyst to
form hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
Alternatively, autothermal reforming
uses oxygen and carbon dioxide or
steam to react with methane to form
hydrogen. The downside of these two
methods is that they produce carbon
as a by-product, so we would need to
explore carbon capture solutions to trap
As we travel toward a cleaner net zero future, we must look and store this carbon.
for alternatives to methane gas, such as hydrogen. Here A greener alternative is electrolysis,
Antony Green, Project Director for Hydrogen Transportation, which is currently available at small
scale but offers the greatest opportunity
Gas Transmission, explains how National Grid is getting for the future. This process uses
ready for a greener gas future electricity to split water into hydrogen
and oxygen – the benefit being that
it produces pure hydrogen with no
he solution to finding a cleaner living things, on Earth, as a gas, it’s very harmful by-products. Because it uses
alternative to natural gas, or scarce – less than one part per million electricity, it also offers the potential to
methane, is all around us. by volume. Instead it’s found in the divert any excess electricity – which is
Hydrogen is the most abundant greatest quantities as water and in other hard to store (like surplus wind power)
T element in the universe, making familiar substances such as methane. – to electrolysis, using it to create
up 90 per cent of all atoms. But while For many years, we’ve used methane hydrogen gas that you can store for
it’s present in nearly all molecules in to heat our homes and businesses, future energy needs.

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