Engineering news
The UK’s gas network has the correct capacity to be converted to hydrogen, according to a new report, which sets out how the gas grid in Leeds could be converted.
Converting natural gas into hydrogen takes place via a process called Steam Methane Reforming – this turns the gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. To achieve the significant emissions reductions from this process, The H21 Leeds City Gate report proposes to use CCS to capture and store the carbon dioxide from the conversion – with hydrogen remaining as a zero-carbon fuel that can be used for heating, transport and electricity.
The report says the gas network in the city could be converted incrementally with minimal disruption to customers and minimal new infrastructure required compared to other alternatives.
The study, a collaboration between Northern Gas Networks (NGN), Wales & West Utilities, Kiwa Gastex and Amec Foster Wheeler, says that a UK-wide conversion from natural gas to hydrogen could reduce emissions from the heat sector by 73% - making a dramatic contribution towards meeting the UK’s decarbonisation goals.
Dan Sadler, NGN head of energy futures, said: “The biggest challenge is not a technical one, it is putting a UK hydrogen conversion and carbon capture policy in place to drive the market and provide the appliance manufacturing industry with confidence to produce hydrogen compatible appliances.”
The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) has welcomed the report. Dr. Luke Warren, chief executive of the CCSA, said: “To meet the UK’s ambitious climate change goals will require decarbonisation across the economy – this report sets out an excellent proposal, which can reduce emissions and provide a long-term future for the UK’s gas infrastructure.
“However, this option largely depends on the availability of CCS and we therefore call on the government to come forward with their new approach to CCS as soon as possible and to ensure that this new approach enables the use of CCS to produce low-carbon hydrogen, as well as to reduce emissions from energy intensive industries and power,” he added.