A new independent report from Imperial College has highlighted the important role that the UK’s gas networks can play in decarbonising heat demand to meet targets set by the Paris Agreement.
The report, which Energy Networks Association (ENA) contributed to, assesses infrastructure options for heat decarbonisation. It examines an option of using green gas in the existing gas grids and allowing consumers to keep the gas boilers in their homes. This is evaluated alongside electrification of heat production and the use of district heating.
One of the report’s main recommendations is that repurposing the gas grids for use with hydrogen would make efficient use of existing energy infrastructure and have little additional cost or impact on roadworks and in consumer homes. The paper highlights the Northern Gas Networks H21 project examining the feasibility of converting the gas networks in Leeds to hydrogen and recommends that further pilot studies should be carried out to determine the feasibility of hydrogen production and distribution processes.
"The use of green gas, including hydrogen, in the gas network is an area of exciting potential being explored by Gas Distribution Network companies. Alongside other forms of green gas, hydrogen could play a role in decarbonising heat demand, whilst making efficient use of existing network infrastructure which currently serves 85% of buildings.
The report is available from http://provpol.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Heat-infrastructure-paper.pdf.