SGN has unveiled plans to build a new gas network to deliver 100 per cent green hydrogen to 300 homes in Fife.
The proposals are subject to funding approval from Ofgem but would see construction begin late 2020 or early 2021, with hydrogen being piped into houses within two to three years. The fuel would be produced using an electrolyser powered by an offshore windfarm.
SGN said the H100 Fife project will demonstrate “every aspect of a hydrogen-to-homes, end-to-end system to support plans for large scale roll-out in the future”. The system will be designed to the same safety and reliability standards as the existing gas network and will feature enough storage maintain supplies “even during the coldest weather conditions”.
It said the project will provide “critical insight” into the challenges of operating a hydrogen network in the real world, including the level of interest from customers who will be required to opt in to take part in the trial.
“Hydrogen is an exciting energy vector that at scale could provide similar levels of safe, secure, reliable and affordable energy to what we enjoy now, with minimal disruption for customers,” said Angus McIntosh, director of energy futures at SGN.
“The project will provide key national evidence for hydrogen’s role in the UK’s energy transition and critical insight into the customer value proposition of hydrogen for heat”.
SGN has applied for funding as part of Ofgem’s annual Network Innovation Competition. It has now passed the initial screening process and has begun preparing its final bid.