Page 26 - Gi flipbook - November 2018

HY HOPES FOR

THE FUTURE

Dr Stuart Hawksworth, Head of HSE’s Centre understand any potential hazards
for Energy, asks whether hydrogen can relating to its use in different
satisfy the rising demand for safe, clean and applications. The hydrogen testing
sustainable energy while meeting carbon facilities are supported by specialists in
computational fluid dynamics, gas
emission reduction targets safety, explosive atmospheres, major
hazards and risk. Working together, and
he UK’s energy sector is significant contribution to future with industry, they facilitate innovation
rapidly changing. decarbonisation”, and scale trials are to overcome health and safety
Technologies across power, already underway in areas such as challenges arising from the introduction
heat and transport are domestic and industrial energy supply. of new energy technologies.
T evolving to address carbon Hydrogen is seen as an attractive The Centre for Energy combines
emissions reduction and the energy carrier, versatile in production evidence-based theory with real world
conservation of fossil fuels. Safe, clean and use; for instance, as a carbon free experimentation to help operators
and sustainable energy solutions must fuel in transport. It is also a promising understand hydrogen’s potential risks.
be found if targets are to be met. The option for large scale storage of Consequently, HSE is partnering with
Committee on Climate Change (CCC) 1 volatile renewable energy, wind and industry in high profile projects
states: “Meeting future carbon budgets solar. However, questions remain, and relating to the use of hydrogen as an
and the UK’s 2050 target to reduce challenges must be overcome before alternative energy solution.
emissions by at least 80 per cent of hydrogen can become fully accepted
1990 levels will require reducing as an alternative fuel. HYDROGEN FOR HEAT
domestic emissions by at least three For the energy sector, this will mean HyDeploy – blending 20 per cent
per cent per year. This will require the acquisition and transfer of new volume hydrogen into the gas network
existing progress to be supplemented knowledge and working practices, but Jointly funded by Ofgem, Cadent and
by more challenging measures.” this is not a situation without precedent. Northern Gas Networks, the HyDeploy
The UK’s heat system accounts for project aims to establish the potential
around one third of our carbon HYDROGEN IN THE FUTURE for blending hydrogen, up to 20 per
emissions. Decarbonising our gas ENERGY SYSTEM cent volume, into the UK’s gas
network by substituting natural gas Identifying, understanding and network to reduce carbon dioxide
– either partially or entirely – for a managing every associated risk is (CO ) emissions. The project intends
2
cleaner, sustainable alternative could fundamental to hydrogen’s successful to determine how much hydrogen gas
address this. adoption. It is essential that these are consumers could use without
In transport, limited progress has explored to unlock hydrogen’s requiring changes to their behaviour
been made to reduce carbon emissions potential in applications from the gas or adaptations to gas appliances and
and national statistics suggest the system to rail, road and marine. with no increase in risk.
beginning of a plateau. Significant Inevitably, industry operators will want The Centre for Energy’s role is to
improvements are needed if emissions to work with hydrogen in as similar a effectively ‘de-risk’ the project. Using
reductions are to remain on target. way as possible to existing fuels. their knowledge and experience of
HSE’s Centre for Energy has hydrogen’s characteristics and
IS HYDROGEN THE ANSWER? conducted hydrogen research and behaviour to identify all potential
HSE’s Centre for Energy is supporting experimentation for more than 15 risks, the scientists can help the
the UK’s changing energy sector by years. For example, pre-normative stakeholders to build a project safety
contributing scientific expertise to research led by HSE found that, under case based upon robust evidence. This
discussions around the use of certain conditions, when released from will inform the regulatory decision to
alternative fuels. Currently, hydrogen high pressures hydrogen can self-ignite sanction a live trial in the project’s
is being considered for use in in the absence of any ignition source. next phase, and also confirm the
applications including heat, transport These projects provide a scientific volume of hydrogen (up to 20 per
and energy storage. knowledge and evidence base for cent) that can be safely used.
Beneficially, hydrogen doesn’t hydrogen that HSE continues to build.
produce carbon dioxide when burnt. Facilities at HSE’s laboratory enable The H21 Leeds City Gate project –
The CCC therefore believes that large-scale hydrogen testing and 100 per cent hydrogen substitution
“hydrogen has the potential to make a experimentation to identify and H21 Leeds City Gate project aims to

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