Britain’s gas networks have released a new delivery plan setting out how they intend to make the grid ready to begin injecting natural gas blended with 20% hydrogen in 2023.
The document published by the Energy Networks Association (ENA) includes a timeline for necessary changes by government and regulatory bodies across five “market pillars”: legislation, regulation, codes, licences and safety.
It presents two potential models for hydrogen blending that the government will need to choose between: a strategic approach, in which connection locations would be designated based on a number of factors such as potential blending volumes, alignment with the broad hydrogen strategy and the ease of control and operation; and a free market approach that would mimic the existing arrangements, with hydrogen capacity being offered on a first-come-first-served basis and blending therefore taking place where producers applied to connect.
As part of its Hydrogen Strategy released in August, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy pledged to complete an assessment of the value for money of hydrogen blending in 2022 and make a final policy decision in 2023.
The ENA said its plan builds on the progress made by gas networks companies through the HyDeploy innovation project, which saw hydrogen begin being blended into the public gas network at Winlaton in Gateshead in the summer of 2021.
The trade body urged the government to double its 2030 hydrogen production target from 5GW to 10GW to ensure as much hydrogen as possible is produced domestically in the UK.
ENA chief executive David Smith said: “Whether it be heating our homes, powering our businesses or generating cleaner electricity, hydrogen will help drive up our energy security, while driving down our carbon emissions – and Britain’s gas grid companies are ready to get on with the job of delivering that.
“This plan sets out the changes needed to deliver cleaner, more secure energy supplies for all. What’s key is that the government does its bit too by lifting its target for homegrown hydrogen production this decade. Doing that today will help gas grid companies deliver for tomorrow.”