HyDeploy is a pioneering hydrogen energy project designed to help reduce UK CO2 emissions and reach the Government’s net zero target for 2050.
As the first ever live demonstration of hydrogen in homes, HyDeploy aims to prove that blending up to 20% volume of hydrogen with natural gas is a safe and greener alternative to the gas we use now. It will provide evidence on how customers don’t have to change their cooking or heating appliances to take the blend, which means less disruption and cost for them. It will also confirm initial findings that customers don’t notice any difference when using the hydrogen blend.
First Phase
HyDeploy @ Keele is the first stage of this three stage programme. The UK Health & Safety Executive have given permission to run a live test of blended hydrogen and natural gas on part of the private gas network at Keele University campus in Staffordshire. It will be the first project in the UK to inject hydrogen into a natural gas network.
Second and Third Phases
Once the Keele stage has been completed, HyDeploy will move to a larger demonstration on a public network in the North East. After that, HyDeploy will have another large demonstration in the North West. These are designed to test the blend across a range of networks and customers so that the evidence is representative of the UK as a whole. With HSE approval, and success at Keele, these phases will go ahead in the early 2020s.
The longer term goal
Once the evidence has been submitted to Government policy makers, we very much expect hydrogen to take its place alongside other forms of zero carbon energy in meeting the needs of the UK population.
What is happening now?
HyDeploy is progressing well. The HSE gave the go ahead for a 10 month live demonstration, at Keele University, of blended hydrogen and natural gas beginning in Autumn 2019. The HSE are satisfied that the blend of gas will be as safe as the gas we all currently use. The hydrogen content will be up to 20%.
Right now the hydrogen production and blending units, along with other supporting equipment have been installed at Keele and connected to the gas supply. They are being thoroughly tested and then the demonstration will go ahead.
Second Phase : HyDeploy North East
For our North East demonstration, we are at the stage of contacting everyone who will be involved in that demonstration – more than 650 homes – and asking them to book a visit from our engineers who will carry out Gas Safe checks on their gas appliances and gather information on the range of appliances in the demonstration area. The Gas Safe checks will be free of charge.
Delivering HyDeploy
HyDeploy is being delivered by the HyDeploy consortium, led by Cadent and Northern Gas Networks, HyDeploy is being delivered by the HyDeploy consortium – led by Cadent and Northern Gas Networks, alongside Progressive Energy Ltd, Keele University, HSE – Science Division and ITM Power. The first HyDeploy live demonstration is being hosted on the Keele University campus in Staffordshire. It is a great example of networks and partners working together to achieve a common goal – the reduction of carbon emissions and improved air quality for the near future.
The HyDeploy live pilot is being hosted on the Keele University campus in Staffordshire.
Grid Entry Unit passes with flying colours
The HyDeploy project has successfully completed a key milestone ahead of go-live at Keele University later this year; testing of the UK’s first ever Hydrogen Grid Entry Unit (HGEU).
Everything in place at Keele
We have now reached the stage where all the equipment needed to commence the HyDeploy trial is on site, has been fitted and tested, so we are ready to go.