TY - JOUR
T1 - Towards a 100% hydrogen domestic gas network: Regulatory and commercial barriers to the first demonstrator project in the United Kingdom
AU - Smith, Connor
AU - Mouli-castillo, Julien
AU - Van Der Horst, Dan
AU - Haszeldine, Stuart
AU - Lane, Matthew
N1 - Funding Information:
The work was sponsored by SGN. The investigation programme was designed by J-MC, CS, DvdH and ML; information gathering work and data analysis was carried out by CS, ML and DvdH. JMC performed complementary regulatory analysis and CS carried out the literature review. The manuscript was written by JMC and CS, with contributions and review from SH and DvdH.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors
PY - 2022/6/30
Y1 - 2022/6/30
N2 - In the debate on the decarbonisation of heat, renewable electricity tends to play a much more dominant role than green gases, despite the potential advantages of gas in terms of utilising existing transportation networks and end-use appliances. Informed comparisons are hampered by information asymmetry; the renewable electricity has seen a huge grid level deployment whereas low-carbon hydrogen or bio-methane have been limited to some small, stand-alone trials. This paper explores the regulatory and commercial challenges of implementing the first UK neighbourhood level 100% low-carbon hydrogen demonstration project. We draw on existing literature and action research to identify the key practical barriers currently hindering the ability of strategically important actors to accelerate the substitution of natural gas with low carbon hydrogen in local gas networks. This paper adds much needed contextual depth to existing generic and theoretical understandings of low-carbon hydrogen for heat transition feasibility. The learnings from pilot projects, about the exclusion of hydrogen calorific value from the Local Distribution Zone calorific value calculation, Special Purpose Vehicle companies, holding of liability and future costs to consumers, need to be quickly transferred into resilient operational practice, or gas repurposing projects will continue to be less desirable than electrification using existing regulations, and with more rapid delivery.
AB - In the debate on the decarbonisation of heat, renewable electricity tends to play a much more dominant role than green gases, despite the potential advantages of gas in terms of utilising existing transportation networks and end-use appliances. Informed comparisons are hampered by information asymmetry; the renewable electricity has seen a huge grid level deployment whereas low-carbon hydrogen or bio-methane have been limited to some small, stand-alone trials. This paper explores the regulatory and commercial challenges of implementing the first UK neighbourhood level 100% low-carbon hydrogen demonstration project. We draw on existing literature and action research to identify the key practical barriers currently hindering the ability of strategically important actors to accelerate the substitution of natural gas with low carbon hydrogen in local gas networks. This paper adds much needed contextual depth to existing generic and theoretical understandings of low-carbon hydrogen for heat transition feasibility. The learnings from pilot projects, about the exclusion of hydrogen calorific value from the Local Distribution Zone calorific value calculation, Special Purpose Vehicle companies, holding of liability and future costs to consumers, need to be quickly transferred into resilient operational practice, or gas repurposing projects will continue to be less desirable than electrification using existing regulations, and with more rapid delivery.
KW - Decarbonised heat
KW - Demonstration project
KW - Heating
KW - Hydrogen
KW - Innovation
KW - Regulation
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.05.123
DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.05.123
M3 - Article
SN - 0360-3199
VL - 47
SP - 23071
EP - 23083
JO - International journal of hydrogen energy
JF - International journal of hydrogen energy
IS - 55
ER -