A six-month ‘world first’ research programme designed to test the use of 100% hydrogen in an existing gas distribution network has successfully concluded.
The South Bank programme, part of the pioneering H21 initiative – a major collaborative UK gas industry hydrogen initiative led by Northern Gas Networks (NGN) – became the first of its kind when it launched in April 2022.
Engineers used a unique site located between Ann Street and Harcourt Road in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough, where 70 homes had been demolished over a decade ago, leaving the underground utilities including the gas infrastructure in place.
Neil Travers, H21 Project Manager for Northern Gas Networks, said: “The outputs from this project will be very significant to industry. For the first time we understand how current procedures carried out on a day-to-day basis can be adapted for use with hydrogen in a public setting.”
“We have learning from off-grid testing but the South Bank scheme is the first time anyone has studied the existing older gas mains, as are typical in many streets across the UK.”
The results of a comprehensive range of operational tests, including the operation of a bespoke unit to odourise the 100% hydrogen with the familiar smell of natural gas, are now being analysed in order to make recommendations on the suitability of the UK’s existing gas network to carry hydrogen.
In a separate initiative, NGN has been given the go ahead by Government and Ofgem to develop its proposal for the UK’s first hydrogen village by switching the gas supply from natural gas to clean burning hydrogen for around 2,000 homes and businesses in parts of Redcar including the town centre, Warrenby and Coatham.
The UK has set a target of achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 to help reverse the impact of climate change. The natural gas used by the 85% of homes connected to the gas grid is responsible around a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions, but hydrogen produces no carbon when burned, so could provide a greener energy solution for heating and cooking.
A hydrogen-fuelled gas network would make use of the vast assets which already deliver a safe, resilient and reliable source of heat the nation’s homes and businesses. A hydrogen conversion would be conducted in a similar way to the natural gas conversion of the 1960s and 70s with customers required to change gas appliances, such as boilers and cookers in their homes to similar hydrogen versions, which would work with existing radiators.
NGN plan to utilise the South Bank site to facilitate future hydrogen training, ensuring the required skill sets are in place ready for a hydrogen future.
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