UK’s first public network

UK’s first public network hydrogen gas blend to lower emissions is given go ahead.

The country’s first trial for blending hydrogen into a public natural gas network has been given the go ahead by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive, as announced by operator Northern Gas Networks.

A blend of 20% hydrogen will be delivered into the natural gas supply to Winlaton, Gateshead, supplying 668 houses, several small businesses and a school, for 10 months from August.

Residential and commercial heating causes approximately a third of the UK’s CO2 emissions. Blending 20% hydrogen throughout the UK gas grid would save around 6 million mt/year of carbon emissions, according to Northern Gas Networks.

“The project will provide more vital evidence about the possibilities of blending hydrogen into the natural gas network across the UK, as a stepping stone to decarbonizing heat with no disruption to customers,” Northern Gas Networks Head of Programme Management and H21 Project Director Tim Harwood said.

“The project will provide more vital evidence about the possibilities of blending hydrogen into the natural gas network across the UK“

“We’ve engaged with the community of Winlaton over the past 18 months and, with the support of the council, undertaken safety checks on their appliances to reassure residents that they can continue to use their gas as normal whilst playing a vital role in the decarbonization of the gas network.”