INDUSTRY NEWS
CARBON NEUTRAL HEATING SOLUTION USES AI & HYDROGEN STORAGE TECHNOLOGY
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n a what’s described as a world first, Baxi and H2GO Power have announced an industrial scale demonstration to deliver their carbon neutral heating solution, heat-in-a-box – which will supply heat for gas pre- heating in a safe and carbon-neutral manner with potential to supply renewable heating for other operations. The ground-breaking trial will be hosted by Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributor for the North East, northern Cumbria and much of Yorkshire, at its Low Thornley test facility, near Gateshead. Pre-heating is an essential part of distributing gas.
Before it can be transported to homes and businesses through the network, the pressure of the gas must be reduced. This process can cause it to freeze, so pre-heating takes place to allow the gas to flow. Traditional pre-heating units are highly energy-intensive, so over the last decade, the gas industry has been exploring a range of low carbon technologies capable of carrying out the process. Heat-in-a-box is a containerised first-of-a-kind solution,
combining electrolysis, H2GO’s proprietary low-pressure hydrogen storage and Baxi’s hydrogen boiler, the pure hydrogen boiler for commercial applications. The end-to- end system will be powered by solar PV and supported by an AI-enabled optimisation software platform developed by H2GO Power (HyAI), the optimisation end-to-end software as a service platform specifically designed for hydrogen value chain systems. HyAI will be installed on NGN’s existing infrastructure to integrate them as part of the solution and optimise the overall system operation. The solution introduces the concept of a Smart Hydrogen-Gas Network (SHyGaN).
Historic homes heated with 100% hydrogen boilers in ‘world-first pilot’
Baxi’s parent company, BDR Thermea Group, the manufacturer of smart indoor climate solutions, has launched a ‘world-first’ pilot using its 100% hydrogen boilers in 12 inhabited homes with hydrogen supplied via
an existing natural gas grid. The pioneering pilot in the eastern Dutch town of Lochem is the first time hydrogen heating is being tested at this scale anywhere in the world. The detached listed houses, all built around 1900, will be equipped with one of the boilers, which burn pure hydrogen with zero carbon emissions. The hydrogen is fed into the existing gas grid at a nearby industrial zone.
£102 million backing for nuclear and hydrogen innovation
The UK government has announces new funding for nuclear and hydrogen technologies including £25 million for technologies that can produce hydrogen from sustainable biomass and waste, while removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Set to become a super-fuel of the future, the government
said accelerating the use of hydrogen will be key to the UK’s greener energy future, alongside work to deploy renewables and nuclear to strengthen the UK’s energy security. The intention is to use the £25 million to accelerate the
deployment of hydrogen from bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) - a unique ‘negative emission’ technology that can permanently remove CO2 from the atmosphere. And in a further move towards making household heating more efficient, the government is also consulting on a proposal for all new domestic-scale gas boilers sold from 2026 to be capable of being powered by hydrogen, to prepare for any potential future transition to the use of low- carbon hydrogen for heating. This latest announcement has been welcomed by
hydrogen champions including the Energy and Utilities Association (EUA). Chief executive Mike Foster said: “Mandating hydrogen-ready boilers is an important step towards decarbonising homes. The Government is absolutely right to support this no-regrets option. Boiler manufacturers have already made their ‘price promise’ so that a new hydrogen-ready boiler will cost the same as a natural gas appliance. So this means 1.7 million homes a year will be ready for Net Zero at no extra cost to the consumer.”
Inbrief
Three high-rise tower blocks, comprising of 273 residences in Chadwell St Mary in Thurrock are having night storage heaters replaced by Kensa ground source heat pumps that are three times more energy efficient.
www.kensaheatpumps.com
The government’s ECO+ scheme will allocate £1bn to improve insulation in UKs homes. It will help to reduce energy costs for households by around £310 a year and extend support to those in the least energy efficient homes in lower council tax bands. The scheme has been welcomed by the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC)
www.hhic.org.uk
Daikin UK, training provider Quantum Group and the Centre of Engineering & Manufacturing Excellence (CEME) have partnered to open one of the largest green skills renewable training centres in Greater London in spring 2023.
www.daikin.co.uk
Actuate UK, the engineering services sector body, has welcomed the extension to the UKCA Mark transition – now confirmed for all construction products till 30 June 2025.
www.actuateuk.org.uk
The ACC Liverpool Group has appointed HVAC installation and maintenance specialist Kimpton Energy Solutions in a bid to continue with its pledge to reduce the site’s carbon impact.
www.kimpton.co.uk
The Retrofit Academy (TRA), a provider in retrofit training, has been awarded funding from the Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to upskill and provide employment in the retrofit sector across England.
https://retrofitacademy.org
After acquiring Asset+ – a specialist provider of energy reduction and zero-carbon measures for the UK public sector – in May this year, Johnson Controls will help Hounslow Council to decarbonise schools and public buildings.
www.johnsoncontrols.com
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