The project will test how hydrogen can be blended with natural gas at power plants to reduce their overall carbon footprint at the site.
For the first time, energy companies have introduced green hydrogen (H) in the UK gas grid and used it to produce electricity. It is a landmark step to achieve the country’s climate goals.
A 2% green hydrogen was mixed with conventional gas and fired at the Brigg power station in North Lincolnshire, which was later used to produce electricity for the national grid. Previous H tests were conducted in controlled settings using decommissioned parts of the transmission network, but this was the first real-world test, carried out by Centrica (British Gas’s parent company) and National Grid, the operator of Britain’s gas transmission system.
In that test, H was mixed into an emergency gas-fired power station for the first time. Centrica has invested in an industry partnership that will test the use of H at Brigg station in Lincolnshire. The pilot is scheduled to be launched in the second half of next year. Their goal was to explore hydropower for producing electricity.
Power stations like Brigg, with a power capacity of 49MW, come online when there is demand for electricity or when renewable output is very low, often have power to run for less than three hours daily.
This test is one of the 20 projects that received funding from the £8 million programme, organized by the Net Zero Technology Centre. It is funded by the UK and Scottish governments.
Centrica has increased its investment in HiiROC from 2% to 5%. It is a startup behind this project. HiiROC previously raised £26 million from Centrica, Melrose, HydrogenOne, Hyundai, and Kia.
The project will test how H can be blended with natural gas at power plants to reduce their overall carbon footprint at the site. In the early stages, the gas was added to 3% of the gas mixture, with plans to gradually increase it to 20%. Partners of the project hope to power the plant using only H and set an example for decarbonizing other gas-fired peaking stations.
Hydrogen is produced by splitting water using electricity, so it produces fewer emissions. It is seen as crucial for decarbonizing energy-intensive industries, although adopting it remains a topic for debate, with some arguing that electric heat pumps are more efficient.
The companies believed that if the test were successful, it would show the potential for the first element in the periodic table to reduce carbon dioxide production when burned in industries where low-carbon alternatives are not available, as H combustion does not produce carbon dioxide.
Green hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity, making it an ideal option for reducing carbon emissions in energy-intensive industries.
Gary Smith, General Secretary of the GMB union, commented that the success of the trial marks an important milestone for the UK’s energy future. It shows the role of industrial innovation in supporting skilled jobs in the working-class communities. It is an essential part of any credible plan to meet net-zero obligations.
Centrica and National Gas are now calling on the government to permit the use of H blends of up to 5% in the UK’s gas system. Jon Butterworth, the chief executive of National Gas, described the trial as an important milestone in Britain’s hydrogen journey, showing how blending H can power stations and open new investment possibilities.
He highlighted that by using the existing National gas infrastructure, pipes that have served the United Kingdom for decades can be used to support the next phase of clean British energy and industry. He expressed his pride in leading efforts to make hydrogen a core part of the UK’s energy system.
