Government pushes ahead with plans for the UK’s first hydrogen towns despite backlash from locals over safety fears

The government is pushing ahead with plans to build the UK’s first hydrogen cities despite backlash from local residents over safety concerns.

It is understood that gas network operators have already proposed cities they consider “best suited for conversion”, such as Aberdeen, Scunthorpe and areas near Humberside and Merseyside.

A small trial of hydrogen heating will begin in Fife, Scotland, next year, with around 300 homes supplied with gas.

Whitby, in Ellesmere Port, proposed a pilot scheme to trial the use of hydrogen in homes, but the plans were scrapped in July when they met fierce opposition from local residents who feared they would be seen as “lab rats”.

While last month protesters took to the streets of Redcar against government proposals to heat 2,000 properties in the Yorkshire seaside town with hydrogen.

Protesters take to the streets of Redcar, Yorkshire, as the government considers the town as a potential site for testing hydrogen in homes.

The government has put forward proposals to heat 2,000 properties with gas as part of a pilot scheme (pictured: protesters in Redcar).

The government is pushing ahead with the trial despite the National Infrastructure Commission last month concluding after a thorough investigation that hydrogen should be “ruled out as an option so that the focus can be solely on the transition to electrified heat”, it is reported. The keeper.

According to the company, three other cities – two in Wales and one in the West Country – were also being considered as potential areas for hydrogen production. Telegraph.

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman said: “By 2030 we aim to provide 10GW of low carbon hydrogen capacity, including at least half from clean hydrogen sources, supporting more than 12,000 jobs and up to £11bn of private investment worldwide”. Great Britain.

“We are establishing the necessary evidence base to determine whether hydrogen blending has strategic and economic value and whether it meets the required safety standards. We will confirm more details by the end of the year.”

To reassure people, it is suggested that the government could rename these areas “decarbonisation zones” and offer a switch from gas to heat pumps, while gas companies could also be allowed to blend hydrogen into the existing gas network.

Just weeks ago, Northern Gas Networks (NGN) came under fire for safety measures surrounding plans to supply 2,000 homes in Redcar with hydrogen for heating and cooking – instead of natural gas.

It involves installing hydrogen detectors in homes, but experts say not enough information has been provided to potential participants.

Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has come under fire over safety measures surrounding plans to supply 2,000 homes with hydrogen for heating and cooking instead of natural gas (stock image)

Ministers have said they will only go forward with the Redcar scheme if it receives community support.

Because hydrogen is more flammable and more prone to leaks than natural gas, installing it in homes will have to undergo some modifications.

The experiment is being seen as the last chance to prove whether hydrogen heating can work in the UK.

There were reportedly disagreements over safety at NGN as experts and residents sparred with the gas network over proposed modifications.

According to a preliminary safety assessment, homes should have holes drilled in their walls to prevent gas leaks and fires. Telegraph.

NGN said this was not necessary and instead suggested using high-tech sensors to find leaks.

Michael Liebreich, an independent energy analyst, called the lack of information “outrageous.”

He told the publication: “They were never properly informed of the original safety case for the study and are now being asked to consent without the publication of a new safety case.”

Mr Liebreich added that people had not been given information about what would happen to their homes.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) previously outlined measures it said would reduce the risk of using hydrogen.

It says installing overflow valves and outside meters in homes, keeping 4-by-4-inch vents open at all times and creating a hydrogen odor reminiscent of natural gas will help.

The gas network also told Redcar residents they would not need vents and dismissed fears of explosions as “misinformation”.

And a safety assessment found that hydrogen installed in homes could cause 65 injuries or deaths each year.

Plans to make Whitby the UK’s first “hydrogen village” were scrapped in July following a backlash from local residents who complained they “didn’t sign up to be lab rats”.

Energy Minister Lord Callanan said at the time: “Having listened to residents’ views, it is clear that there is not strong local support.”

In an open letter, Mark Horsley, chief executive of NGN, said: “There is absolutely no scenario in which we would ever install a product in anyone’s home or community that would compromise their safety.”