UK Approval on Hydrogen Blending in Domestic Gas Networks

Ministers have given the go-ahead for the blending of hydrogen into the existing UK gas network. It is expected to progress by 2025-26, as long as it is safe, according to the Government’s adviser on the low-carbon gas.

There has been a lot of discussion about how hydrogen could make the UK economy more environmentally friendly. This is particularly true for sectors that are difficult to transition to electricity. Greener energy holds the promise of creating new jobs and enhancing domestic energy security by reducing reliance on imports.

The UK Government's Hydrogen Strategy, introduced in 2021, set ambitious targets for low-carbon hydrogen production, aiming for 5GW of capacity by 2030. Building on this, the British Energy Security Strategy further doubled this ambition to potentially up to 10GW by the same deadline. Central to this strategy is the concept of hydrogen blending, which involves mixing low-carbon hydrogen with other gases, primarily natural gas, within the existing gas network infrastructure.

Blending into gas transmission networks

Blending hydrogen into the UK gas transmission networks has been carefully evaluated for households, in terms of economic benefits and safety assessments.

However, an important factor to think about, is how different blend rates could affect industrial businesses that use energy from the power grid. Industrial users connected at a larger scale may experience greater impacts than households connected at the distribution level.

Industrial users connected directly to the transmission-level pipelines often have larger gas demands and more complex operations. Therefore, any changes in the gas composition, such as varying blend rates or different gas mixes, could impact their operations, production processes, and equipment differently than it would for households.

Mitigations such as deblending may be necessary to address these impacts, albeit with associated costs. Research is ongoing in this area. 

Breaking Ground: National Grid Transmission Achieves 100% Hydrogen Flow at Test Facility

Trials and tests have been completed to gather evidence and assess the safety of blending into the existing gas transmission system. This data is crucial for informing future policy decisions and ensuring the safe and effective integration of hydrogen blending.

National Grid Transmission has recently marked a significant achievement in the journey towards decarbonising the UK's energy mix.

In a World's first, The FutureGrid test facility has demonstrated 100% hydrogen flow in their high-pressure gas transmission pipes. This showcases huge advancements in hydrogen transportation.

Located at the DNV Spadeadam research and test facility in Cumbria, this milestone underscores National Grid's commitment to advancing technical capabilities and proving the viability of hydrogen as a safe and effective energy carrier.

The next phases of FutureGrid, include; the development of a 1km hydrogen compression test loop and the addition of a deblending system.

FutureGrid Video

Here is a video that is available to watch below, and on LinkedIn: 

Prioritising Safety in Blending Initiatives

While blending presents opportunities to kickstart the hydrogen economy and reduce production costs, safety remains a paramount concern.

Trials such as HyDeploy have provided valuable insights into blending's safety and operational implications, particularly on gas meter accuracy and industrial user impacts.

Looking ahead, Government efforts will focus on independent safety assessments and continued stakeholder engagement. However, the transition to blending at scale will require legislative amendments, likely delaying commercial implementation until at least 2025-26.

Navigating the Future of Blending

Mixing gas with renewable sources reduces emissions. However, as the UK gets closer to achieving zero carbon goals, the importance of this blend may decline. Government emphasis remains on utilising hydrogen where direct electrification is not feasible, prioritising sectors with limited alternatives.

Blending hydrogen has the potential to speed up the UK's shift to a low-carbon economy. Using hydrogen in the UK can help transition to a low-carbon economy faster. It is crucial to think about safety, economic feasibility, and long-term sustainability. This will ensure that hydrogen integration into the energy sector is successful.