Ofgem backs new hydrogen lab to test grid transmission
Energy regulator Ofgem is backing a new National Grid research facility that will explore how existing gas transmission assets could be used to pipe hydrogen to UK homes and factories.
Known as HyNTS FutureGrid, the £12.7m centre in Cumbria will be built from decommissioned assets in order to replicate the existing gas network, but will be offline from the actual grid so that a range of hydrogen blends can be tested.
To assess whether or not the existing network is compatible with the green gas, blends of between two per cent and 100 per cent hydrogen will be used at the facility. Methane gas is currently used to heat around 85 per cent of UK homes, with overall gas use for heating, cooking and industrial processes accounting for 37 per cent of UK CO2 emissions.
Growing a green gas giant: innovations in hydrogen production
“If we truly want to reach a net zero decarbonised future, we need to replace methane with green alternatives like hydrogen,” said Antony Green, National Grid’s project director for hydrogen.
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