Ministers should give the go-ahead this year to mix hydrogen into the UK’s gas network as long as it is demonstrably safe, according to the government’s adviser on low-carbon gas.
The recommendation is one of the main findings of a report published on Wednesday by Jane Toogood, who was appointed “champion of hydrogen” last July.
The government has previously said it will decide by the end of the year whether to mix up to 20 percent hydrogen into the gas distribution system as part of its net zero carbon target by 2050. Replacing natural gas boilers is a key part of that goal, as homes account for about a fifth greenhouse gas emissions.
Toogood, who is chief executive of Johnson Matthey’s Catalyst Technologies business, which supplies the technology used in hydrogen production, said the government should approve the mix “the sooner the better” to help stimulate demand.
Low-carbon hydrogen is considered a greener alternative to fossil fuels because it produces no carbon dioxide when burned in air, although some scientists warn the process produces polluting nitrogen oxide emissions.
The gas is known as green hydrogen when it is produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy, or blue hydrogen when it is made from natural gas, with carbon dioxide as a byproduct, which is then captured and stored.
Toogood said both types of hydrogen could be mixed into the gas network, and he agreed with the government that at least half would be “electrolytic hydrogen”.
Opinions on whether low-carbon hydrogen is suitable for use in domestic boilers have become polarized. Gas infrastructure companies say switching to hydrogen boilers will be less disruptive compared to other low-carbon heating systems such as electric heat pumps.
Opponents have argue that the hydrogen mixture can extend the use of natural gas for domestic heating and is less economical and less efficient than alternatives such as electric heat pumps or solar thermal.
Cornwall Insight, an energy analyst, has predicted that using hydrogen for home heating could be 70 percent more expensive than using natural gas.
Toogood also called on ministers to press ahead with the point where all new gas boilers must be “hydrogen ready”. He said that the point should start from 2026 and is necessary because not all houses can be easily converted to “electric heat pumps”.
“I suggest that we give clarity on the decision . . . if we get a safety case that allows it,” he said. The Health and Safety Executive assesses the safety of using hydrogen in domestic, commercial and industrial settings.
He said that until 1967 the UK’s old gas network used “town gas”, which came from coal and contained a high proportion of hydrogen: about 50 per cent. “This is nothing new,” he said.
Toogood added that the government should “electrify where we can” but pointed out that Britain depends on gas, used by 83 percent of homes and 200,000 businesses.
He admitted that low-carbon hydrogen was a “nascent” industry and offered no “silver bullet” for Britain’s future energy needs.
The report also called on the government to ensure hydrogen production projects are delivered “at scale” to boost investor confidence.
Toogood said energy-intensive industries – such as cement, steel and glass – are particularly suitable for conversion to hydrogen. It can also be used to power commercial aircraft, ships and larger vehicles such as HGVs and ambulances, which cannot afford long charging times.
Additional reporting by Harry Dempsey