Page 29 - Gi flipbook June/July 2018

IS HYDROGEN TRULY power at the 100MW scale. Large
LOW CARBON? scale storage of compressed
Hydrogen is zero carbon at point of hydrogen in salt cavities, anticlines or
use. Its carbon footprint from aquifers at the >1,000 tonne scale
renewable power via electrolysis is ■ Transmission of hydrogen to
extremely low, that from natural gas existing natural gas grids
about 0.06kg/kWh, from biomass it ■ Re-purposing existing LP gas grids
could be negative. to 100 per cent hydrogen requiring
new appliances and industrial
IS HYDROGEN SAFE? burners.
Hydrogen is not toxic, non- ■ Blending hydrogen with existing
carcinogenic, and not a first order natural gas
greenhouse gas. It is flammable, but ■ Predominantly as a balancing service
so is natural gas, LPG and petrol – it to the power sector, electrolysers
is a fuel. The flame has low radiance can convert transient quantities of
so the risk of death from burns is electricity to hydrogen. This can be
lower, it offers no risk from carbon added at modest levels (probably
monoxide. The original town gas (50 <20 per cent v/v).
per cent v/v hydrogen) had a good
record from the perspective of fire WHAT SHOULD YOUR
and explosion. Unfortunately, it was COMPANY OR ORGANISATION
extremely poisonous. The current gas BE DOING?
industry has an excellent safety This depends upon the sector you
record and there is no reason to are in, so here are some examples:
believe hydrogen would be ■ Inform your management and
significantly different. strategic staff on all aspects of the
hydrogen supply chain. Local
WHAT’S THE CATCH? authorities and local enterprise
Hydrogen supply and storage partnerships should understand how
technologies have very large switching to hydrogen would reduce
advantages and economies of scale. the carbon footprint of their towns.
Household hydrogen was ■ Fuel cell manufacturers and
successfully trialled in the US in the micro-CHP assemblers should be
1970s with boilers, cookers, gas fires thinking about how to cater for the
and cars – the technology has been market generated by the growing
well proven for years. hydrogen economy.
world. Low cost, long term, large scale Unfortunately, due to their complexity ■ Gas appliance manufacturers could
underground hydrogen storage has and cost conversion, schemes really be developing GAR-compliant 100
been proven in the UK since the 1960s. need to be city or UK region wide, but per cent hydrogen appliances.
Conveyance is simple using existing this does have the advantage of a ■ There is huge potential for local
plastic pipes or at higher pressures in total decarbonisation package being power generation from hydrogen.
steel pipes. This is typically regarded provided by experts to end-users at no Kiwa has the UK’s only whole house
as one seventh (or less) of the cost of point of conversion cost and with zero load simulator, ideal for capacity
transporting electricity per kWh/km. hassle. Many consumers might think planning for domestic power
In addition, the widespread this a great bonus. requirements.
distribution of hydrogen was foreseen It does slightly reduce the peak ■ The automotive and component
and permitted by the UK 1986 Gas energy carrying capacity of the existing industry is likely to see significant
Act, burning hydrogen emits no gas grid (to about 82 per cent of growth as low cost hydrogen (which
carbon at point of use and distributed current capacity) but it’s designed to is likely to remain cheaper than
hydrogen will revolutionise the meet the country’s load at 6pm during electricity) becomes available in every
potential for local power generation a one in 20-year weather event, this is street, leading to reinvigoration of
and combined heat and power (CHP). not regarded as insuperable. the hydrogen vs. electric vehicle
competition, especially in the bus and
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW? HOW HYDROGEN MIGHT BE HGV market. ■
BEIS has announced a £25 million project ROLLED OUT
to develop domestic boilers, cookers The lowest cost and simplest routes ■ Kiwa Gastec runs a hydrogen
and fires. The GDNOs have applied to to hydrogen use involve: training course designed to enable
Ofgem for £15 million to investigate ■ Large scale manufacture of staff with management and strategic
and confirm the safety of hydrogen. hydrogen from natural gas (with responsibilities to understand its
It is anticipated that the government long term storage of the resultant potential and liaise with local gas
will reignite plans to replace natural gas CO2, probably under the North or companies. For more information
in the UK grid with hydrogen, as a major Irish Sea) using >1,000MW plant. email enquiries@kiwa.co.uk or call
part of its strategy to decarbonise the ■ Medium scale production by 01242 677877. Visit www.kiwa.co.uk/
heating, transport and industrial sectors. electrolysis using excess wind and PV gas for more.

29

KiwaOnH2.indd 2 17/05/2018 13:51