The hydrogen neighbourhood trials in Fife have been anticipated to begin within the second half of 2024 and the challenge was being led by gasoline firm SGN.
The H100 Fife challenge was touted as “the world’s first 100% hydrogen-to-homes heating network” by the native council. The primary section was as a result of join 300 houses to a warmth community that utilised hydrogen produced in a plant powered by a close-by offshore wind farm.
SGN has confirmed that the challenge has been delayed for a minimum of six months, that means that it’ll come on-line initially of 2025 on the earliest. SGN cites provide chain points as the first cause.
Gasoline distribution networks are eager for blends of hydrogen, probably reaching 100%, for use in houses. This would prevent them from winding down their infrastructure. MPs and vitality analysis our bodies have argued that this would be inefficient in terms of costs and carbon, with hydrogen best saved for harder-to-abate activities than home heating.
The Authorities is aiming to make a remaining choice on the function of hydrogen in gasoline networks in 2026. Trials at quite a few villages have been meant to tell this choice, however the challenge in Fife has been delayed and different notable tasks have been scrapped altogether.
Final yr, the Authorities cancelled a planned, two-year trial to fit a village with hydrogen-ready boilers.
The trial, meant to happen in Whitby in 2025, was set to impression round 2,000 houses, which might’ve had their boilers changed with hydrogen-ready fashions. Blends of hydrogen can be examined first, growing to 100% hydrogen.
Many Whitby residents opposed the trials happening of their space, arguing that the Authorities and the businesses concerned had not supplied clear sufficient info to allay their considerations about security.
The Authorities’s own climate advisors have stated thatno matter what selections are made for the end-use of hydrogen, present progress to roll out electrical warmth pumps and related warmth networks is way too gradual.
Final week, the Power and Local weather Intelligence Unit (ECIU) set out new analysis highlighting coverage gaps and challenge supply delays round points equivalent to residence vitality effectivity, warmth pumps and lowering electrical energy prices. It warned that the Authorities was going backwards on key areas of vitality effectivity and safety.
Commenting on the newest delays, Jess Ralston, Power Analyst at ECIU stated: “Hydrogen trials have been alleged to have began already, however native opposition has seen two cancelled already. This trial now gained’t begin till summer time 2025 with the Authorities as a result of make a coverage choice on the way forward for residence heating the very subsequent yr.
“Until the UK shifts away from gasoline boilers, because the North Sea output continues its inevitable decline, UK houses will develop into ever extra depending on overseas gasoline imports. It’s broadly acknowledged that electrical warmth pumps working on British renewables will make the UK extra vitality impartial.
“As many experts, including the National Infrastructure Commission, have been saying for some time, hydrogen will only play a very limited role in home heating. It looks increasingly like a pipe dream.”
