BSEE-OCT21-PG07 Comment Pete Mills_Layout 1 24/09/2021 14:35 Page 7
INDUSTRY COMMENT Worth the wait?
In his latest column, Pete Mills, commercial technical operations manager at Bosch Commercial & Industrial looks at the recently launched Hydrogen Strategy from Government
he Government has finally released its long-awaited Hydrogen Strategy document, unusually for these types of documents, during the Parliamentary summer recess. This perhaps reflects the growing public concern about climate change and the need for action following a summer where droughts and forest fires have been playing out on our TV screens once again. This strategy document is an important part of the overall Government strategy to achieve Net Zero and as such has to dovetail into other areas of decarbonisation. Most importantly for the heating industry will be the Heat and Buildings strategy document that it is hoped will be published at some point during the Autumn. I recall Alok Sharma, who is now the minister responsible for the COP26 climate summit, being pressed by the BBC as to why there had been delays to the release of the key documents, with the Hydrogen Strategy being at the top of their list. Clearly the Government was under pressure to get things moving.
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For those that have been following the hydrogen topic, there was little in the Hydrogen Strategy document that would have come as a surprise. However, its importance is more as a general statement of recognition that a hydrogen economy will be needed to achieve Net Zero and to indicate some of the key sectors that will be involved in this.
Much of the focus within the strategy is around the supply of hydrogen and how this can be ramped up to meet the Government’s ambition. Currently there is very little green hydrogen produced, that is hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources using techniques such as electrolysis, and the document sets out the ambition for this to increase rapidly. Blue hydrogen production, which is hydrogen produced using methane as a feedstock with the addition of carbon capture and storage, has the potential to meet short-term gaps in supply. There are those that oppose this route, but carbon reduction is carbon reduction and we may not have the luxury of being so sniffy about where our hydrogen comes from, if we want rapid action on greenhouse gas emissions.
It is interesting to see that the anticipated consumption of hydrogen for heating is low to 2030 at only 1TWh, but that the analysis suggests the demand could rise sharply by 2035 to 45TWhs. That would mean some significant increase in supply infrastructure to feed homes and businesses along with the boost to jobs in this part of the green economy.
There is encouraging support for the introduction of hydrogen blends up to 20% within the existing gas supply, a move that could potentially save five million tonnes of carbon a year. If the trials being conducted under the HyDeploy project are successful and there is every indication that they will be, then this is surely a no brainer for Government to press ahead with. The importance of this move is not just a quick win for carbon reduction, but a boost for the hydrogen market and a big encouragement for investment into hydrogen production.
But the future use of hydrogen to combat emissions from heating our buildings at scale, is ultimately dependent on the use of 100% hydrogen flowing through parts, or all of the existing gas network. To make a future transition possible will require a new breed of appliances, and the strategy document commits the Government to consult this year 2021 for the potential mandate of hydrogen ready appliances by 2026. It is essential that the signal from Government is given to the industry soon to enable it to ramp up its efforts to have appliances available by 2026. Manufacturers for their part are confident this can be achieved, if they get the go ahead soon.
consumption of hydrogen for heating is low to 2030 at only 1TWh, but the analysis suggests the demand could rise sharply by 2035 to 45TWhs. That would mean some significant increase in supply infrastructure to feed homes and businesses along with the boost to jobs in this part of the green economy.
‘ ’ The anticipated
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BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2021 7
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