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Hydrogen in the pipeline

9 August 2021

Hydrogen in the pipeline

It’s often said that the widespread availability of energy sources derived from hydrogen will be crucial in meeting future power needs on the scale required.

Funding has been granted for a range of sustainable energy projects in Scotland, including involvement in an initiative to create a pan-European network supplying hydrogen gas via existing distribution pipelines.

A total of £16.5 million has been awarded to the Net Zero Technology Centre to accelerate a range of energy transition schemes to help deliver Scotland’s net-zero economy.

Seven projects will be developed through the centre’s Net Zero Technology Transition Programme (NZTTP) to transform the North Sea energy system, with a focus on emissions reduction.

Funding is being provided through the Scottish Government’s Energy Transition Fund and will be match-funded by the industry.

The £62 million Energy Transition Fund was launched on 12 June 2020. The Fund has already provided funding of £26 million for an Energy Transition Zone, located in Aberdeen, £6.5 million for a Global Underwater Hub, as well as £4.65 million to the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub. 

One of the seven projects is the Hydrogen Backbone Link. This is designed to unlock Scotland’s hydrogen export potential by developing a pan-European infrastructure, including re-purposing existing pipelines. 

The scheme will receive £1.6m of funding, match-funded by industry to £3.2m. 

Questions remain concerning how ‘green’ the production of hydrogen is, but if it becomes more widely available it should make it more practical for uses in other markets such as construction. 

• Residents in the village of Winlaton near Newcastle upon Tyne last week became the first in the UK to use gas containing hydrogen for domestic purposes. More than 650 households had been informed trials would start soon but no specific date was given to ensure objectivity and lack of bias,

Initially the gas supplied contains 2% hydrogen, increasing gradually to 20%, which is the maximum that can be blended with natural gas without new appliances being needed. 

The government has announced plans to create a trial in Fife where 300 homes will run on 100% hydrogen. It’s part of Boris Johnson’s ‘green industrial revolution’, as reported on the blog last year.

Picture shows refuelling at the Shell UK Future Fuels hydrogen refilling station in Cobham – copyright James Cannon. 

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