27 January 2022, source edie newsroom
The UK’s plans to begin delivering gas blends of 20% hydrogen from next year would be unwise, a scientific study has concluded, as they would increase gas bills and exacerbate the existing price crisis.
Hydrogen produces no emissions at the point of use, but debate is rife about how best to produce it and what the most appropriate end uses are in the net-zero transition
The study, published this week in the 238th edition of the journal ‘Energy’, was conducted by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology (Fraunhofer IEE) in Kassel, Germany.
It assesses how a 20% hydrogen blend in domestic gas supplies, predominantly used for heating, would impact the carbon impact of the gas across its life-cycle. How this blend would impact prices is also considered. All conclusions are based on a scenario taking place within the EU, but the researchers have stated that findings would likely be similar for the UK.