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THE HOT 100

SCOTLAND WILL HOST THE UK’S FIRST
100 PER CENT HYDROGEN NETWORK

Julien Mouli-Castillo, Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the reforming used in refineries.
University of Edinburgh’s School of Geosciences, explains how The greenhouse gases associated
the hydrogen transition is picking up the pace thanks to the with these means of production can
be captured more easily at the point of
UK’s first 100 per cent hydrogen distribution network hydrogen production and sequestrated
in offshore geological formations
GN is one of the UK’s big four the experience and competence the kilometres deep.
gas distribution companies, gas industry has in transitioning and When hydrogen is produced this
providing gas to some 5.9 accommodating change at scale. way, and the associated carbon dioxide
million homes and businesses SGN, alongside the other GB gas captured and stored, it is referred to as
S across Scotland, the south of networks, has developed and agreed ‘blue hydrogen’.
England and Northern Ireland. the gas quality decarbonisation Accordingly, hydrogen can be
SGN is leading and taking part in pathway (Figure 1) in order to map burned for heat just as natural gas
collaborative projects to support the the key steps, evidence and transition currently is, but without the carbon
achievement of the government’s required to achieve a fully decarbonised footprint. Using 100 per cent hydrogen
legally binding target of reducing gas network, where hydrogen is the to operate a distribution network with
carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. fundamental solution. In their view, this domestic appliances for heating has
The gas industry meets the heating level of decarbonisation can be achieved never been done.
demand of around 85 per cent of through removing barriers, securing Funded by Ofgem’s Gas Network
homes. It is therefore a crucial player in supply, stimulating a hydrogen economy Innovation Allowance, SGN will deliver
achieving heat decarbonisation. and delivering net zero options. H100, which aims to evidence the
In its latest draft of the National Hydrogen gas is at the forefront of viability of green hydrogen as an energy
Energy and Climate Plan, published innovation strategies to decarbonise vector through the construction and
in January 2019, the UK government the UK’s buildings, industries and demonstration of the first 100 per cent
made it clear that decarbonisation of transport sectors, since hydrogen can hydrogen distribution network.
heat is one of the biggest challenges in be derived from water using electricity It is paramount that this
reaching the net zero target. (electrolysis) and is a gas that produces demonstration is safe, secure and
The gas network operators have no carbon emissions at the point of use. reliable. The project will initially deliver
significant experience in handling the When renewable electricity is used clean energy in the form of zero carbon
large flow of energy needed to deliver in the process of electrolysis, green heat to approximately 300 participating
the country’s domestic and industrial hydrogen can be produced. homes that will become involved in the
heating demand. Alternatively, hydrogen can also be project on an opt-in, voluntary basis.
The achievements of the challenging produced at scale using commercially This will help demonstrate the social
energy transition from ‘town gas’ to mature technologies, such as steam and customer acceptance of hydrogen by
natural gas in the 1960s demonstrate methane reforming or auto-thermal giving customers the choice between their

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