The National Grid is planning a £10m project to test how hydrogen could be used to keep Britain’s homes warm.
Announced today, the project in the north-west of England will aim to see how hydrogen could be used to heat homes and how this might reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Britain has a target to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, which will require a huge reduction in the use of fossil fuels, such as gas, which is currently used to heat about 85% of the country’s homes.
“Sectors such as heat are difficult to decarbonise,” said Antony Green, project director for hydrogen at National Grid.
“Trial projects like this are crucial if we are to deliver low-carbon energy reliably and safely.”
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The National Grid says construction if the hydrogen heating project – at a site owned by risk management and energy group DNV GL in Cumbria in the north-west of England – could start in 2021, subject to approval by energy regulator Ofgem.
Trials will then be scheduled to begin in 2022.
Belgium’s gas network operator Fluxys and Britain’s Northern Gas Networks are partnering on the project.
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