Share this page
 

1/21/2021

  • Sustainability
  • Strategy
  • Innovations

Clean energy pioneers test hydrogen innovation in UK ‘HyStreet’ 

Nearly every town in the UK has a high street, filled with shops and – in pre-COVID days, at least –activity. But few have a ‘HyStreet’, buzzing with action of a different kind, as a group of energy pioneers including BDR Thermea Group test hydrogen as the emission-free fuel of the future.

This HyStreet can be found in Spadeadam, Northumberland, where Baxi Heating and fellow boiler manufacturer Worcester Bosch have installed hydrogen-ready combi boilers into demonstration houses at a specially built test site.
Part of a ground-breaking project called H21, this is the world’s largest coordinated test of how existing natural gas networks can be repurposed to safely carry 100% hydrogen. Initially focused on the north of England, H21 has a detailed engineering blueprint to convert 3.7 million UK homes and businesses from natural gas to hydrogen by 2034. It aims to roll out nationwide, potentially converting 12 million UK homes to hydrogen by 2050.

 
Spadeadam

Working in partnership

H21 is a Network Innovation Competition project sponsored by Ofgem. Northern Gas Networks is leading the project with partners Cadent, Scottish Gas Networks, Wales & West Utilities, National Grid, DNV GL and the Health and Safety Executive’s science division.


H21 is a Network Innovation Competition project sponsored by Ofgem. Northern Gas Networks is leading the project with partners Cadent, Scottish Gas Networks, Wales & West Utilities, National Grid, DNV GL and the Health and Safety Executive’s science division.


The hydrogen-ready prototype boilers installed at Spadeadam by Baxi and Worcester Bosch were developed as part of the UK government-funded Hy4Heat programme, which is also supporting the development of hydrogen-ready gas cookers, fires and gas meters. They are part of over 200 tests underway at the test site, all researching and proving the safety of converting homes and gas networks to hydrogen.

$name

"Since we began in late 2020, we have been closely monitoring the operation of the boiler and gained valuable experience from the installation"

Jeff House | Head of External Affairs Baxi Heating

Contributing to climate ambitions

This is important work, as heating is currently the largest single source of carbon emissions in the UK, making up around a third of the total. Eight out of 10 UK homes are heated by gas boilers, making their replacement to zero-emission alternatives a priority for the UK’s climate ambitions.

“We’re proud to be playing a part in the UK’s first hydrogen heating demonstration. Showing the effectiveness and safety of hydrogen-burning boilers as part of a wider conversion of gas networks to hydrogen is an essential step on our hydrogen journey,” says Jeff House, Head of External Affairs.

“Since we began in late 2020, we have been closely monitoring the operation of the boiler and gained valuable experience from the installation. Findings from demonstrations and trials are essential to help us fine-tune our technology and help make the transition to clean-energy home boilers as safe, easy and cost-effective as possible.’’

VideoUK
Play
Watch this new video of the Spadeadam test in action, with our Baxi technology playing an important part in demonstrating the possibilities of moving from natural gas to zero-emission hydrogen in home heating.


$name$name$name$name$namebaymak_logo

You can find our head office at:


Kanaal Zuid 106 | 7332 BD Apeldoorn | The Netherlands

© BDR Thermea Group 2020

© BDR Thermea Group 2020