North East to benefit from World’s largest clean energy project?

A significant report has outlined ideas for a major shift toward hydrogen as a fuel for heating

across the North of England.

The H21 North of England Report has suggested up to 700,000 homes could be running on hydrogen in the North East and up to 3.7 million homes and 40,000 businesses across the North as a whole, with work potentially starting in 2024 and completing in 2034.

The report is the result of a collaboration between Northern Gas Networks, Cadent and Norwegian  energy business Equinor. If given the go-ahead, it would be the World’s largest clean energy project - reducing CO2 emissions by 285m tones a year by 2050 (around 80% of the UK’s remaining 2050 reduction target), with a cost estimate put at £22.7bn.

‘Huge leap’ towards carbon cutting targets

Dan Sadler, H21 Programme Director at Northern Gas Networks, said: “If rolled out UK-wide, this detailed engineering solution has the potential to decarbonise 70% of domestic heat by 2050, and represents a huge leap towards our country meeting the climate change challenge.

“If the government is to meet its legally-binding carbon reduction targets, it cannot afford to miss out on the opportunities presented by decarbonising the UK gas network and its associated impact on other industries.

“Northern Gas Networks looks forward to taking the H21 North of England proposals forward with the government as part of the Clean Growth Grand Challenge”.

Energy expert view

“A fantastic idea, assuming the hydrogen can be produced at scale with any carbon emissions managed appropriately. It’s another huge opportunity for the region, if everything can be put in place for the project to go ahead.” Alastair Fells MEI, Incorporated Eng, PG Dip Fuel Tech, BSc Hons

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