Gas networks prepare for hydrogen

This blog post was first published by H2View.

The UK’s five gas network operators unveiled a plan in April to create the world’s first net zero gas network by speeding up the switch from natural gas to hydrogen for the 85% of UK households connected to the gas grid.

Led by the Energy Networks Association (ENA), the major programme, dubbed Gas Goes Green, brings together National Grid, Wales & West, Northern Gas Networks, Cadent and SGN.

Britain’s five gas networks will replace the natural gas that 85% of homes rely upon with a mixture of hydrogen and biomethane in a bid to reduce homes, businesses and communities’ carbon emissions, without having to change the way they heat their properties, use hot water or cook their food.

Gas Goes Green will ensure 23 million properties around the UK have as much choice as possible to access the energy they need in the way they’d like and when they need it the most, in a clean, reliable and safe way, as well as create new demand for clean technologies and green gas, stimulating new green industries.

In its first phase, the Gas Goes Green programme will:

• Agree and deliver a comprehensive Hydrogen Networks Plan for preparing Britain for a national gas boiler switchover scheme, and providing solutions for heavy industry and transport.
• Undertake the technical and operational research necessary for the government to make changes to regulations for using hydrogen and renewable gases in the gas networks.
• Agree and deliver the updated safety measures for running a zero carbon gas grid.
• Make changes to connections to the gas grid, to make it easier for farmers and other businesses to feed in green gases like biomethane into the local gas grid.

To read a full interview with Matt Hindle which provides updates since May, please view the original article.