Michael Shanks, the UK’s energy minister, has said that the current government is supportive of blending hydrogen with natural gas for supply into the UK’s existing gas network.
Hydrogen has the advantage that it does not emit carbon dioxide when burnt. What’s more, it can be made using entirely renewable energy, such as electricity from wind turbines during off-peak periods. Using pure hydrogen is not seen as a viable option, however, because the existing network would need extensive improvement and current gas boilers would not work on 100% hydrogen.
Nevertheless, it is believed the network will be able to handle a blend of 80% natural gas and 20% hydrogen. Furthermore, more existing boilers will be able to handle such a blend without any issues. The shift could therefore reduce the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions without major changes to infrastructure.
Shanks said to the Economy Committee of the Scottish Parliament:
“We are actively looking at blending and there are some decision points coming up on that. I think there’s a balance to be struck—there’s been a detailed bit of evidence-gathering about the degree you can blend without having an impact on the end users.”
While he could not commit to a timescale, he said that it was being actively considered. Blending was also supported by the previous UK Government.
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