The first pilot project in the UK to inject zero carbon hydrogen into a gas network to heat homes is now fully operational.
HyDeploy is a concept designed by Keele University, Staffordshire, to help cut carbon emissions in homes, enabling the UK to meet its climate change obligations and ensure more energy efficient homes are developed.
The £7m project, reported to be the first of its kind, could “pave the way to saving six million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions across the country every year,” according to Keele University.
HyDeploy will inject up to 20% (by volume) of hydrogen into Keele University’s existing natural gas network. This will feed 100 homes and 30 faculty buildings, and represents the highest hydrogen blend in Europe.
Hydrogen, when burned, creates heat without carbon dioxide. And with 83% of homes using gas for heat, the 20% volume blend means that homeowners can continue to use their gas supply as normal without the need to change their gas appliances. All the while homeowners will be cutting carbon emissions.
Cutting Carbon: The Mission
The construction industry has been challenged to slash its carbon emissions and build more environmentally-friendly homes, and the carbon dioxide produced in the building of a home has a bearing on how green it is.
Self builders, in particular, are discovering that building an eco home does not have to be prohibitively expensive, and making a home more sustainable and energy efficient can be associated with lower running costs.
(MORE: Self Build: The Complete Guide)
The HyDeploy project reports that a hypothetical rollout of the 20% hydrogen blend was rolled out across the UK it could save around six million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. This is the equivalent of taking 2.5 millions cars off the road.
Professor Mark Ormerod, deputy vice chancellor and provost at Keele University, said: “Sustainability and low carbon energy is a key overarching institutional priority for Keele University, and we are delighted to be a key partner in HyDeploy.
“HyDeploy is a pioneering landmark national demonstration project, using our campus as a genuine ‘living laboratory’ for low carbon and energy efficient technologies. HyDeploy has the potential to be hugely impactful and lead to a step change in the reduction of carbon emissions associated with heat.”