Why are we choosing Hydrogen boilers?
The boilers we currently use burn methane, propane, butane and ethane, When these are burnt it creates Co2 which stays in the earths atmosphere causing the planet to heat up. Hydrogen is a cleaner fuel and when burnt you’re left with water.
Green hydrogen, Blue hydrogen?
Green hydrogen is basically water seperating hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity, e.g wind farms, solar panels. This way produces no carbon emissions and is the way to go forward in the future. The term used for this process is called electrolosys.
Blue hydrogen is a different process altogether using steam at 800 degrees celcius to seperate the hydrogen from methane but this produces CO2 which is then either released into the atmosphere or stored deep underground in carbon capture. This currently is the most common used practice to make hydrogen but studies have shown that this method is worse than burning normal methane which is what we use at the moment.
National Grid
The plan is to have a greener UK by 2050. The existing pipework will hopefully be able to transfer Hydrogen the same as methane gas. Tests are being carried out to make sure there will be no problems in doing this in the future .
The first planned project from the Energy minister is in Gateshead London which have the first Hydrogen boilers installed. Also Fife in Scotland 300 homes will be trialled to receive Hydrogen directly from the grid.
Boiler manufacturers
So the plan going on in the background with Baxi, Worcester, Viessmann is to have boilers that operate with an added 20% hydrogen to the existing gas network. They have already designed the boilers to operate like this and will be phased in from 2025. The plan is to run the boilers on 100% Hydrogen but this will probably not materialise till at least 2040.
Alternative options Solar or Heat pumps?
These are green sources of energy but not practical to run alongside our existing netowrk. Large cities would not be able to have ground souce heat pumps as you would have to drill 200 metres down to access the heat source which wouldn’t be good for the foundations the houses are built onto but great if in the countryside. You could fit air heat pumps but they are bulky and would be on the ouitside of every house Solar is a good option it costs around £6000 – £7,000 to install and would generate enough electricity for the year.
What to do in the meantime if i need a new boiler?
The muntacrurers have taken into account the new blend so any boilers you buy will be compatable in the future.
Should I buy a Heat pump instead?
Although there is an expensive outlay at the beginning they are an efficient way to cool and heat your home. Heat pump sales are starting to take off and the government is now subsidising training so engineers can install over the UK.
Summary
Whatever option you decide to go with it looks like hydrogen boilers are going to be around for the future as the government tries to improve it’s carbon footprint. They are cheaper to buy and install from the beginning abd that seems to be what mosr people are interested in.
We are happy to go throught her diffent options available so you can make an informed choice.