Page 22 - Gi Dec 2020 / Jan 2021

ready to deploy

national levels, to support regional
leaders in plotting pathways to their
own ambitious targets to reaching net
zero, often much sooner than 2050
(for example, see our recent report
published for Greater Manchester,
which wants to be net zero by 2038) .
1
We are actively leading projects
that turn the theory into action. We’re
only a few months away now from
completing our UK-first demonstration
trial on the university campus at Keele in
Staffordshire. This HyDeploy project is
blending up to 20 per cent hydrogen (by
volume) into this private gas network,
which feeds around 130 buildings. Using
the same pipes and same appliances, the
aim is to prove that hydrogen can work
safely, without any need to change what
we use now. We cannot understate the
significance of this – if we are allowed
to replicate blending like this at scale,
we would see huge carbon savings (the
equivalent to taking more than 2.5
million cars off the road).

These really are massive
moments in the journey to wider
use of hydrogen and, crucially,
a bridge to introducing 100 per
cent hydrogen

And that first ‘at scale’ opportunity
could well come in the form of another
project called HyNet, based in North
West England. Founded by Cadent and
Progressive Energy, it’s now become at repurposing the existing network to create the conditions and confidence
a much bigger consortium committed carry 100 per cent hydrogen. Both these needed for hydrogen to happen as
to developing one of the UK’s first latter two are expected to reach critical quickly as the net zero challenge needs
hydrogen industrial clusters. As well as construction and/or demonstrating it to. What we, as a supportive industry,
producing hydrogen for industrial use, phases in the early 2020s. now need is more certainty.
HyNet envisages using surplus hydrogen, Our wider industry partners too have The UK still lacks a clear national
blending it (again, at up to 20 per cent kept a foot on the accelerator through hydrogen strategy. There have been
volume) and supplying it to around two the pandemic. For example, boiler some incredibly encouraging signs
million homes in the North West. manufacturers like Worcester Bosch, coming from government that we
These really are massive moments Baxi Heating and others are at advanced should see that soon, as well as the
in the journey to wider use of hydrogen stages of testing 100 per cent hydrogen- Energy White Paper, which we now
and, crucially, a bridge to introducing ready units. Some are being put through expect to see shortly. This is an absolute
100 per cent hydrogen. their paces as part of HyDeploy. priority, so that industry can move its
Representing the four UK gas So, really, we are now already talking plan forward and the UK can take the
distribution networks, Cadent is on in terms of months, not years. The pace full advantage and be a world leader
the advisory panel for Hy4Heat, the is fast - and necessarily so - if we are to in hydrogen, reaping all the economic,
Department for Business, Energy and environmental and societal rewards
Industrial Strategy (BEIS) programme that would flow directly from doing so.
aiming to establish the safely and The pace is fast - and necessarily
feasibility of 100 per cent hydrogen in so - if we are to create the For more information about HyDeploy,
residential and commercial buildings visit www.hydeploy.co.uk
and gas appliances. This programme conditions and confidence
started in 2017 and is due to run until needed for hydrogen to happen
March next year. We are also part- as quickly as the net zero References
funding the H100 project, which is challenge needs it to. What we, https://cadentgas.com/news-media/news/july-
focused on construction of a new gas 2020/helping-greater-manchester-reach-net-zero-
grid and new appliances (at 100 per cent as a supportive industry, now by-2038
hydrogen), as well as H21, which looks need is more certainty

22

19/11/2020 13:12
CadentFutureOfGas.indd 3 19/11/2020 13:12
CadentFutureOfGas.indd 3