The role of hydrogen in decarbonising power will come under the spotlight later this month as Centrica’s Windsor headquarters hosts the UK’s first ‘Road to Net Zero Tour’.

Industry and policymakers are invited to discover how low carbon hydrogen can fuel the UK’s journey to net zero as Centrica partner 2G Energy showcases a 100% hydrogen-powered combined heat and power (CHP) engine. The event gives business leaders, national and local policymakers and planners the opportunity to understand how a hydrogen CHP engine works, and how the technology can help the UK achieve its 2050 net zero ambitions.

Earlier this year, Centrica announced a manufacturing partnership with 2G, in response to a ‘growing need for integrated hydrogen solutions which are a key tool in the decarbonisation of decentralised energy’. 

"There’s a common perception that low carbon hydrogen-to-power technology is a distant prospect, but as the hydrogen-ready CHP engine clearly shows, the reality is that this technology is already here and playing a crucial role in advancing the decarbonisation agenda."

William Mezzullo, Head of Hydrogen for Centrica

This is one of a number of exciting projects that the UK’s largest energy company hopes will pave the way for low carbon hydrogen to replace fossil fuels across much of the energy mix. The company – best known as the owner of British Gas - is part of a trial which will see upwards of 2,000 homes in either Whitby in Cheshire or Redcar in Teesside converted to hydrogen heating.

In addition, Centrica is working with Equinor to explore developing a low-carbon hydrogen production hub at Easington in East Yorkshire, and later this year will be the first energy company to blend hydrogen into a grid connected power station – using emerald hydrogen from a HiiROC hydrogen production unit at the Brigg peaking power station in Lincolnshire.   

William Mezzullo, Head of Hydrogen for Centrica, said, “There’s a common perception that low carbon hydrogen-to-power technology is a distant prospect, but as the hydrogen-ready CHP engine clearly shows, the reality is that this technology is already here and playing a crucial role in advancing the decarbonisation agenda.

“We should be bold in our thinking, the UK should aim to be a net exporter of hydrogen, providing high quality green jobs, additional revenues for the UK treasury and a lower cost of transitioning to Net Zero for homeowners and businesses.”

Mark Holtmann, Managing Director of 2G said “Hydrogen is set to play a vital role as the UK looks for long-term ways to meet its carbon reduction targets. Hydrogen’s importance has become increasingly clear over the past few months of energy supply upheaval and the impact of war in Ukraine.

“We are committed to promoting hydrogen to achieve a net zero world and we want to demonstrate how CHPs can be integrated into a wide variety of industries and applications such as hospitals, schools, hotels and leisure facilities to provide energy reliability and resilience.”

NOTES

Notes to Editors

  • 2G’s ‘Road to Net Zero Tour’ is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.
  • Working in partnership with Altrad Babcock, 2G installed the UK’s first 100% hydrogen CHP solution at Kirkwall Airport in the Orkney Islands. Once fully commissioned, the CHP system will be integrated with the airport’s existing heating system to meet some of the heating and power requirements of the main airport building. Funded by the Scottish Government, the CHP installation at Kirkwall Airport is part of a series of initiatives led by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in collaboration with Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) to decarbonise the airport. A study undertaken by EMEC found that space and water heating demand in the airport terminal represented the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions after aircraft operations.
  • The UK Government is committed to developing the low carbon hydrogen economy and has identified up to 20GW of potential hydrogen projects through to 2037.
  • Since 2012, 2G has successfully installed over 8000 CHP plants in 55 countries. 2G was presented with the COGEN Europe Technology & Innovation Award for the Kirkwall Airport project. 
  • The tour will also stop at All-Energy 2023 in Glasgow (May 10-11); Bohr Ltd, Stone (May 18); WB Power Services, Ilkeston (May 22) and the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association’s Annual Conference in London (May 24).
  • In 2022 Centrica increased its equity stake in HiiROC to approximately five per cent. HiiROC’s proprietary technology converts biomethane, flare gas or natural gas into clean hydrogen and solid carbon black, through an innovative Thermal Plasma Electrolysis process. This results in a low carbon, or potentially negative carbon, ‘emerald hydrogen’ that doesn’t rely on carbon pipeline infrastructure.