Making the change to hydrogen heating
In the UK we already have 100% natural gas grid, and as of 1996, under current regulations, all gas boilers installed were legally required to be able to sustain 23% hydrogen.
But with its current focus on achieving zero carbon status within a few short decades, the government has introduced an initiative called The Hydrogen Taskforce which has the challenge of creating a pathway for a future built on hydrogen energy, phasing out our reliance on natural gas in favour of a hydrogen grid.
‘The Role of Hydrogen in delivering Net Zero’ is the Taskforce’s report which sets out actions that must be taken over the next 5 years to scale hydrogen applications, adding hydrogen into the existing natural gas network at a ratio of 20% hydrogen, 80% natural gas.
Trials are already underway in Staffordshire where a 20% hydrogen and 80% natural gas blend is being used to heat 100 homes and 30 Keele University faculty buildings with the aim of phasing hydrogen into the network on a nationwide scale by 2025.
Is your boiler hydrogen-ready?
You do not need to have a hydrogen-ready boiler straight away as it is likely to take at least 10 years for industry to make any higher level a realistic option. However, when hydrogen is widely available, UK homeowners will need to switch to hydrogen-ready boilers.
Some boiler manufacturers have already developed hydrogen-ready boilers but they are not yet available to buy or install. However, if you need to upgrade your boiler and future-proof your heating system, SEM Facilities are able to supply and install a compatible and upgradeable modern gas boiler which is the best available solution.
Getting a hydrogen network up and running is likely to take 10-15 years, and as this is the average lifespan for a boiler, by the time your boiler has run its course you will be ready to replace it and can do so with a hydrogen-ready boiler.
Manufacturers are calling on the government to mandate that in order to deliver Net Zero it needs to commit £1bn towards readying the UK for hydrogen in the upcoming Spending Review.
Hydrogen offers no less an effective heat source than current heating solutions, such as instantaneous heat and hot water and is a straightforward and practical solution for the consumer.
Manufacturers are keen to stay ahead of the game, and the installation of ‘hydrogen-ready’ boilers could begin long before 100% hydrogen is available. At which point hydrogen-ready boilers can be converted without the need for a new heating system.
Why swap natural gas for hydrogen?
Natural gas emits carbon into the atmosphere when burnt in a boiler, whereas hydrogen does not and it is also a more energy efficient fuel which can save you money.
Phasing in a 20% hydrogen blend across the country could save about 6m tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is the equivalent of taking 2.5m cars off our roads.
