Page 17 - Gi February 2019 - flipbook

for hydrogen production, storage and
transmission, along with the carbon
capture and storage (CCS) technology
needed to ensure clean energy for
customers in the North’s major cities.
A six-phase roll-out of hydrogen
conversion to the rest of the UK is
also described – a process that could
see the heating needs of a further 12
million homes being delivered by
clean hydrogen by 2050.
For a hydrogen gas network to truly
become reality, it is essential industry
works closely with government to
create the necessary evidence
supporting any future policy decision
to begin conversion. As such, all four H21 North of England is a scenario
UK gas distribution companies are
working collaboratively on the H21 NIC, which shows how hydrogen heating
a £10.3 million Network Innovation could potentially be rolled out using the
Competition-funded project.
In two years’ time, this programme North as an example
will deliver critical evidence outlining
the risks of a hydrogen network
compared to those of a natural gas programme, which is examining the fuel for cooking, heating for homes
network. safe use of hydrogen in buildings and and power for transport. While
Parallel with the H21 NIC work is appliances, and created a market technically conversion is a relatively
the government’s own Hy4Heat stimulus for manufacturers. straightforward process, there is a lot
programme, established to address H21 North of England presents a to do and by working collaboratively,
two of the biggest challenges scenario for deep decarbonisation of the UK GDNs can demonstrate the
associated with hydrogen as an option the North, which could lead to a ability to make use of existing gas
to decarbonise heat, the safety issues reduction of around 14 per cent of UK networks, which means costs can be
around using hydrogen in properties heat demand by 2034. kept at realistic levels.”
and the need to modify appliances to Following on from this, the report
burn hydrogen. presents a further vision for PRODUCTION, STORAGE
According to Keith Owen, Head of conversion to take place across the AND DISTRIBUTION
Systems Development and Energy rest of the UK, which could lead to Hydrogen for the North of England
Strategy at Northern Gas Networks: decarbonisation of up to 70 per cent could be produced by extracting it
“Without the critical safety evidence, a of all UK meter points by 2050. from natural gas through a well-
policy decision can’t be made. We are If rolled out, the report estimates established reforming process known
very supportive therefore of strong this stands to deliver a total CO2 as auto thermal reforming (ATR).
industry collaboration and open reduction by 2050 of 50Mtpa – 17 It is estimated the North of England
conversations with government to per cent of the required reduction to requires approximately 85TWh of
deliver this evidence, and to bring realistic meet the UK’s climate change target. hydrogen per annum – 3.5 per cent of
decarbonisation solutions to the table. For Owen, using the gas networks current global capacity. To meet the
“H21 North of England is a scenario to carry clean gas is a wholly practical demand, a new hydrogen production
which shows how hydrogen heating way to tackle climate change. facility would need to be built, located
could potentially be rolled out using “The UK gas networks have perhaps along the North East and
the North as an example, and goes continued to develop and invest in North West coastlines to facilitate
hand in hand with the H21 NIC work, infrastructure upgrade programmes, connectivity to future carbon capture
and the Hy4Heat programme.” and as a result we have one of the and storage infrastructure. The facility
most advanced gas infrastructure would comprise nine ATR units
WHY HYDROGEN? networks anywhere in the world, operating in parallel, each with a
The H21 North of England report comes serving up to 90 per cent of homes, production capacity of 1.3GW – a
at a time of growing global interest in businesses and industry for heat. total capacity of 12.15GW.
the potential of large scale hydrogen “H21 allows us to reinvent that To deliver the flexibility needed, it’s
conversion to reduce carbon emissions, network for a low carbon economy envisaged that approximately 8TWh of
create jobs and unlock technological and support the UK government’s inter-seasonal hydrogen storage would
innovation in other industries. drive to meet the existing carbon also be required, and the deep salt
The UK government named targets through to 2050. strata in Aldbrough, Yorkshire, has
hydrogen as a credible pathway “Hydrogen is a clean gas that has been identified as providing a great
towards 2050 decarbonisation in its minimal carbon impact when the location for such an asset. The storage
2017 Clean Growth Strategy. It also carbon is captured and stored. system would be based in 56 caverns
invested £25 million in the Hy4Heat “It has the potential to be used as and eight surface facilities, and would

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