The Role of Hydrogen Energy in Powering Homes
The UK government predicts that over 3 million homes in the country will be hydrogen-powered by 2030. The move towards hydrogen energy comes about as the UK economy strives towards meeting the 2050 net-zero emissions national target.
Hydrogen is a clean source of energy that produces no greenhouse emissions upon combustion. As a result, it can be used to replace traditional, combustion-based fuel sources in homes, such as hobs, cookers, radiators and boilers.
In addition to helping the housing industry reach net-zero emission goals, this shift is projected to create upwards of 100,000 jobs, boosting the economy by £13 billion in the process.
This also enables manufacturers of fuel-based home appliances to innovate with their technology, increasing sustainability and reducing carbon footprint in the process.
Hydrogen Boilers – How Will Hydrogen Be Used in Homes?
Hydrogen can be used in the same way as natural gas in household appliances, such as boilers, as it is a clean fuel that can be directly pumped into houses to be used for energy, using the existing gas infrastructure. The only difference between hydrogen and traditional boilers would be a hydrogen-ready flame detector and burner. Combination boilers, utilising both hydrogen and natural gas, are already being tested in UK homes.
Hydrogen-powered appliances would provide the same heating effects as their traditional counterpart while being more fuel-efficient and significantly reducing the environmental impact. Consequently, experts predict that the mass rolling out of hydrogen-powered homes will be a crucial step in the de-carbonisation of heat production in the UK.
Currently, we require more green hydrogen to be produced, as opposed to blue hydrogen, to meet the total level of sustainability intended by the government. By investing in hydrogen technology, such as hydrogen storage tanks and hydrogen-powered vehicles, we can collectively advance innovation in this field and reach closer to the 2050 net-zero target.
