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THE HYDEPLOY TRIAL WILL BLEND HYDROGEN INSIDE KEELE UNIVERSITY’S GAS NETWORK
HYDROGEN INJECTED INTO University, the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE) Science Division,
hydrogen specialist ITM Power, and
GAS GRID AS HYDEPLOY clean energy firm Progressive Energy.
The hydrogen for the trial is being
produced by an electrolyser provided
TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY by ITM Power, which uses an electrical
current to split water molecules into
hydrogen and oxygen.
“This trial could pave the way for a
wider roll out of hydrogen blending,
ZERO CARBON HYDROGEN GAS has Heating for domestic properties enabling consumers to cut carbon
for the first time been injected into the and industrial plants currently emissions without changing anything
UK gas network as part of a ground- accounts for half of the UK’s energy that they do,” explained Syson.
breaking green energy pilot from gas consumption and one third of its “HyDeploy could also prove to be
distribution network firm Cadent. carbon emissions, with 83 per cent of the launchpad for a wider hydrogen
The £7 million HyDeploy trial is homes using gas to keep warm. economy, fuelling industry and
providing up to 20 per cent of the But the 20 per cent volume blend transport, bringing new jobs and making
volume of gas in Keele University’s being used in the Keele University trial Britain a world-leader in this technology.
existing natural gas network from means customers can continue to use Urgent action is needed on carbon
hydrogen, bringing lower carbon their gas supply as normal without any emissions and HyDeploy is an important
heating to 100 homes and 30 changes required to gas appliances or staging post on that journey in the UK.”
faculty buildings. pipework, while also reducing carbon Mark Horsley, Chief Executive of
The 20 per cent hydrogen blend is emissions, Cadent said. Northern Gas Networks, described
the joint-highest in Europe, alongside Current regulations mean the UK hydrogen as “a key piece of the
a similar trial being run by Engie in gas network is limited to a maximum decarbonisation jigsaw, and this
Northern France, reports BusinessGreen. hydrogen volume limit of 0.1 per cent, milestone allows us to take a huge leap
“It is impossible to overstate the but a consortium led by Cadent was forwards in terms of its use in meeting
importance of this trial to the UK granted an exemption for the trial by climate change targets”.
– this is the first demonstration of the Health and Safety Executive, which “Customers are ready to embrace
hydrogen in a modern gas network was satisfied the 20 per cent hydrogen cleaner, greener solutions in their
in this country,” said Ed Syson, Chief blend would be “as safe as natural gas”. homes, and projects like HyDeploy
Safety and Strategy Officer for Cadent. Backed by Ofgem’s Network give us the opportunity to start
“Hydrogen can help us tackle one of Innovation Competition, the project making a difference to emissions
the most difficult sources of carbon is being led by Cadent in partnership today,” he added. “We’re very excited
emissions – heat.” with Northern Gas Networks, Keele to be a part of it.”

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16/01/2020 14:53
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