Projects & Initiatives

Climate change is one of today’s most pressing global challenges. Since the emission of greenhouse gases is often closely related to the use and supply of energy the goal to avoid emissions requires a fundamental restructuring of the energy system including all parts of the technology chains from production to end-use. Natural gas is today one of the most important primary energy sources in Europe with utilization ranging from power generation and industry to appliances in the residential and commercial sector as well as mobility. As natural gas is a fossil fuel gas utilization is thus responsible for significant emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) a greenhouse gas. However the transformation of the gas sector with its broad variety of technologies and end-use applications is a challenge as a fuel switch is related to changing physical properties. Today the residential and commercial sector is the biggest end user sector for natural gas in the EU both in terms of consumption and in the number of installed appliances. Natural gas is used to provide space heating as well as hot water and is used in cooking and catering appliances with in total about 200 million gas-fired residential and commercial end user appliances installed. More than 40 % of the EU gas consumption is accounted for by the residential and commercial sector. The most promising substitutes for natural gas are biogases and hydrogen. The carbon-free fuel gas hydrogen may be produced e.g. from water and renewable electricity; therefore it can be produced with a greatly lowered carbon footprint and on a very large scale. As a gaseous fuel it can be transported stored and utilised in all end-use sectors that are served by natural gas today: Power plants industry commercial appliances households and mobility. Technologies and materials however need to be suitable for the new fuel. The injection of hydrogen into existing gas distribution for example will impact all gas-using equipment in the grids since these devices are designed and optimized to operate safely efficiently and with low pollutant emissions with natural gas as fuel. The THyGA project1 focusses on all technical aspects and the regulatory framework concerning the potential operation of domestic and commercial end user appliances with hydrogen  / natural gas blends. The THyGA deliverables start with theoretical background from material science (D2.4) and combustion theory (this report) and extend to the project’s experimental campaign on hydrogen tolerance tests as well as reports on the status quo and potential future developments on rules and standards as well as mitigation strategies for coping with high levels of hydrogen admixture. By this approach the project aims at investigating which levels of hydrogen blending impact the various appliance technologies to which extent and to identify the regime in which a safe efficient and low-polluting operation is possible. As this is in many ways a question of combustion this report focuses on theoretical considerations about the impact of hydrogen admixture on combustion processes. The effects of hydrogen admixture on main gas quality properties as well as combustion temperatures laminar combustion velocities pollutant formation (CO NOx) safety-related aspects and the impact of combustion control are discussed. This overview provides a basis for subsequent steps of the project e.g. for establishing the testing program. A profound understanding of the impact on hydrogen on natural gas combustion is also essential for the development of mitigation strategies to reduce potential negative consequences of hydrogen admixture on appliances.

This is part one. Part two of this project can be found at this link

The present document is part of a larger literature survey of this WP aiming to establish the current status of gas utilisation technologies in order to determine the impact of hydrogen (H₂) admixture on natural gas (NG) appliances. This part focuses on the non-combustion related aspects of injecting hydrogen in the gas distribution networks within buildings including hydrogen embrittlement of metallic materials chemical compatibility and leakage issues. In the particular conditions of adding natural gas and hydrogen (NG / H2) mixture into a gas distribution network hydrogen is likely to reduce the mechanical properties of metallic components. This is known as hydrogen embrittlement (HE) (Birnbaum 1979). This type of damage takes place once a critical level of stress / strain and hydrogen content coexist in a susceptible microstructure. Currently four mechanisms were identified and will be discussed in detail. The way those mechanisms act independently or together is strongly dependent on the material the hydrogen charging procedure and the mechanical loading type. The main metallic materials used in gas appliances and gas distribution networks are: carbon steels stainless steels copper brass and aluminium alloys (Thibaut 2020). The presented results showed that low alloy steels are the most susceptible materials to hydrogen embrittlement followed by stainless steels aluminium copper and brass alloys. However the relative pressures of the operating conditions of gas distribution network in buildings are low i.e. between 30 to 50 mbar. At those low hydrogen partial pressures it is assumed that a gas mixture composed of NG and up to 50% H2 should not be problematic in terms of HE for any of the metallic materials used in gas distribution network unless high mechanical stress / strain and high stress concentrations are applied. The chemical compatibility of hydrogen with other materials and specifically polyethylene (PE) which is a reference material for the gas industry is also discussed. PE was found to have no corrosion issues and no deterioration or ageing was observed after long term testing in hydrogen gas. The last non-combustion concern related to the introduction of hydrogen in natural gas distribution network is the propensity of hydrogen toward leakage. Indeed the physical properties of hydrogen are different from other gases such as methane or propane and it was observed that hydrogen leaks 2.5 times quicker than methane. This bibliographical report on material deterioration chemical compatibility and leakage concerns coming with the introduction of NG / H₂ mixture in the gas distribution network sets the basis for the upcoming experimental work where the tightness of gas distribution network components will be investigated (Task 3.2.3 WP3). In addition tightness of typical components that connect end-user appliances to the local distribution line shall be evaluated as well.

Hydrogen is essential to the UK meeting its net zero emissions target. We must act now to scale hydrogen solutions and achieve cost effective deep decarbonisation. With the support of Government UK industry is ready to deliver.

The potential to deploy hydrogen at scale as an energy vector has risen rapidly in the political and industrial consciousness in recent years as the benefits and opportunities have become better understood. Early stage projects across the globe have demonstrated the potential of hydrogen to deliver deep decarbonisation reduce the cost of renewable power and balance energy supply and demand. Governments and major industrial and commercial organisations across the world have set out their ambition to deploy hydrogen technologies at scale. This has created a growing confidence that hydrogen will present both a viable decarbonisation pathway and a global market opportunity. Hydrogen will have an important role to play in meeting the global climate goals set out in the Paris Climate Agreement and due to be discussed later this year at COP26.

The UK’s commitment to a net zero greenhouse gas emissions target has sharpened the conversation around hydrogen. Most experts agree that net zero by 2050 cannot be achieved through electrification alone and as such there is a need for a clean molecule to complement the electron. Hydrogen has properties which lend themselves to the decarbonisation of parts of the energy system which are less well suited to electrification such as industrial processes heating and heavy and highly utilised vehicles. Hydrogen solutions can be scaled meaning that the contribution of hydrogen to meeting net zero could be substantial.

A steady start has been made to exploring the hydrogen opportunity. Partnerships between policymakers and industry exist on several projects which are spread out right across the country from London to many industrial areas in the north east and north west. Existing projects include the early stage roll out of transport infrastructure and vehicles feasibility studies focused on large scale hydrogen production technologies projects exploring the decarbonisation of the gas grid and the development of hydrogen appliances.

The Government recently announced new funding for hydrogen through the Hydrogen Supply Programme and Industrial Fuel Switching Competition. These programmes are excellent examples of collaboration between Government and industry in driving UK leadership in hydrogen and developing solutions that will be critical for meeting net zero.

If the UK is going to meet net zero and capitalise on the economic growth opportunities presented by domestic and global markets for hydrogen solutions and expertise it is critical that the 2020s deliver a step change in hydrogen activity building on the unique strengths and expertise developed during early stage technology development.

The Hydrogen Taskforce brings together leading companies pushing hydrogen into the mainstream in the UK to offer a shared view of the opportunity and a collective position on the next steps that must be taken to ensure that the UK capitalises on this opportunity. There are questions to be answered and challenges that must be overcome as hydrogen technologies develop yet by focusing on what can be done today the benefits of hydrogen can be immediately realised whilst industry expertise and knowledge is built.

You can download the whole document from the Hydrogen Taskforce website here

The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) has the ambitious objective to place Europe at the forefront of the development commercialization and deployment of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies as of 2015. About €470 million over a six year period have been granted by the European Union to achieve this and private funds are being attracted to support the same ambition as part of the global European effort embedded in the multi-annual implementation plan MAIP (2008-2013).

Hydrogen as the International Energy Agency (IEA 2019) notes has experienced a number of ‘false dawns’ - in the 1970s 1990s and early 2000s - which subsequently faded. However this time there is reason to think that hydrogen will play a substantial role in the global energy system. The most important factor driving this renewed focus is the ability of hydrogen to support deep carbon abatement by assisting in those sectors where abatement with non-carbon electricity has so far proven difficult. Hydrogen can also address poor urban air quality energy security and provides a good means of shifting energy supply between regions and between seasons.

In response to these changed conditions many countries states and even cities have developed hydrogen strategies while various interest groups have developed industry roadmaps which fulfil a similar role.  

This report summarises 19 hydrogen strategies and aims to help readers understand how nations regions and industries are thinking about opportunities to become involved in this emerging industry. Its prime purpose is to act as a resource to assist those involved in long-term energy policy planning in Australia including those involved in the development of Australia’s hydrogen strategy

The full report can be read on the Energy Network website at this link here

The United Kingdom has a vast scientific base across the entire Hydrogen and Fuel Cell research landscape with a world class academic community coupled with significant industrial activity from both UK-based Hydrogen and Fuel Cell companies and global companies with a strong presence within the country. The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell (H2FC) SUPERGEN Hub funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) was established in 2012 as a five-year programme to bring the UK's H2FC research community together. Here we present the UK's current Hydrogen and Fuel Cell activities along with the role of the H2FC SUPERGEN Hub.

The site at the Health and Safety Executive’s Science and Research Centre in Buxton will carry out controlled tests to establish the critical safety evidence proving that a 100% hydrogen gas network is equally as safe as the natural gas grid heating our homes and businesses today. The results will be critical in determining if it is safe to convert millions of homes across the country from natural gas to hydrogen. H21 which is led by Northern Gas Networks (NGN) the gas distributor for the North of England in partnership with Cadent SGN and Wales & West Utilities HSE Science and Research Centre and DNV-GL is part of a number of gas industry projects designed to support conversion of the UK gas networks to carry 100% hydrogen. Currently about 30% of UK carbon emissions are from the heating of homes businesses and industry. H21 states that a large-scale conversion of the gas grid from natural gas to hydrogen is vital to meeting the Government’s Net Zero targets.

H21 North of England (H21 NoE) has been developed in partnership between Cadent Equinor and Northern Gas  Networks. Equinor was considered a perfect partner for the onshore UK gas distribution industry to develop the H21 concept. The UK like most other countries around the world recognises the challenge of climate change. The UK has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% of their level in 1990 by 2050; this is a legal obligation defined under the terms of the UK Climate Change Act 2008. In 2018 the UK still need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 300 million tonnes per year (Mtpa) before 2050. This is a big challenge that requires big and realistic solutions – H21 NoE is such a solution. Climate change is one of the most significant technical economic social and business challenges facing the world today. H21 NoE presents a detailed engineering solution for converting the gas networks across the North of England to hydrogen between 2028 and 2034. This would provide deep decarbonising of 14% of UK heat and become the world’s largest CO2 emissions reduction project achieving 12.5Mtpa of CO2 avoided to the atmosphere. The project also sets out how to decarbonise 70% of all UK meter points by 2050 using a six-phase regional hydrogen rollout strategy. Based on credible proven at scale technology and a strong industry supply chain H21 has the potential to replace all UK natural gas with hydrogen for deep decarbonisation of residential commercial and industrial heat power generation and transport by 2050.

A link to the report can be accessed here.

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is often used to check the environmental suitability of hydrogen energy systems usually involving comparative studies. However these comparative studies are typically affected by inconsistent methodological choices between the case studies under comparison. In this regard protocols for the harmonisation of methodological choices in LCA of hydrogen are available. The step-by-step application of these protocols to a large number of case studies has already resulted in libraries of harmonised carbon energy and acidification footprints of hydrogen. In order to foster the applicability of these harmonisation protocols a web-based software for the calculation of harmonised life-cycle indicators of hydrogen has recently been developed. This work addresses—for the first time—the validation of such a tool by checking the deviation between the available libraries of harmonised carbon energy and acidification footprints of hydrogen and the corresponding tool-based harmonised results. A high correlation (R2 > 0.999) was found between the library- and tool-based harmonised life-cycle indicators of hydrogen thereby successfully validating the software. Hence this tool has the potential to effectively promote the use of harmonised life-cycle indicators for robust comparative LCA studies of hydrogen energy systems significantly mitigating misinterpretation.

The HyDeploy project is the UK’s first practical project to demonstrate that hydrogen can be safely blended into the natural-gas distribution system without requiring changes to appliances and the associated disruption. The project is funded under Ofgem’s Network Innovation Competition and is a collaboration between Cadent Gas Northern Gas Networks Progressive Energy Ltd Keele University (Keele) Health & Safety Laboratory and ITM Power. Cadent and Northern Gas Networks are the Gas Distribution Network sponsors of the project. Keele University is the host site providing the gas-distribution network which will receive the hydrogen blend. Keele University is the largest campus university in the UK. Health & Safety Laboratory provides the scientific laboratories and experimental expertise. ITM Power provides the electrolyser that produces the hydrogen. Progressive Energy Ltd is the project developer and project manager. HyDeploy is structured into three distinct phases. The first is an extensive technical programme to establish the necessary detailed evidence base in support of an application to the Health & Safety Executive for Exemption to Schedule 3 of the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (GS(M)R) to permit the injection of hydrogen at 20 mol%. This is required to allow hydrogen to be blended into a natural-gas supply above the current British limit of 0.1 mol%.



The second phase comprises the construction of the electrolyser and grid entry unit along with the necessary piping and valves to allow hydrogen to be mixed and injected into the Keele University gas-distribution network and to ensure all necessary training of operatives is conducted before injection. The third phase is the trial itself which is due to start in the summer of 2019 and last around 10 months. The trial phase also provides an opportunity to undertake further experimental activities related to the operational network to support the pathway to full deployment of blended gas. The outcome of HyDeploy is principally developing the initial evidence base that hydrogen can be blended into a UK operational natural-gas network without disruption to customers and without prejudicing the safety of end users. If deployed at scale hydrogen blending at 20 mol% would unlock 29 TWh pa of decarbonized heat and provide a route map for deeper savings. The equivalent carbon savings of a national roll-out of a 20-mol% hydrogen blend would be to remove 2.5 million cars from the road.



HyDeploy is a seminal UK project for the decarbonization of the gas grid via hydrogen deployment and will provide the first stepping stone for setting technical operational and regulatory precedents of the hydrogen vector.