Home, Sweet Hydrogen Home: when H2 invests in domestic networks

Hydrogen is now coming to both homes and businesses, in the hopes of providing a green alternative for heating homes and cooking while reducing the use of natural gases. 

These revolutionary green energy trials happening around the world could help greatly reduce carbon emissions as well as set the groundwork for a green hydrogen economy by integrating hydrogen into existing systems and working with other renewable energy sectors like solar and wind. Here are a few examples of how hydrogen technology could be used to power local grids:

Scotland

An energy firm in Scotland, SGN, is working to build the world’s first renewable hydrogen network to power more than 300 homes. This is an important first step in exploring hydrogen as a renewable alternative to inefficient gas boilers and will provide a model for decarbonizing heat across the rest of the UK. 

• Hydrogen will be harnessed from water using the process of electrolysis. The energy needed to perform the electrolysis will come from offshore wind farms. 
• The hydrogen will be stored before arriving directly to individual homes using an underground network of pipes, with the possibility of re-fitting pipes already used to provide homes with natural gas to transport hydrogen. 
• This type of renewable energy requires large supplies of water and wind making the project’s position along the east coast of Scotland ideal. 

ENGIE Eye

ENGIE is also working with partners to incorporate hydrogen into natural gas distribution networks with the demonstrator “GRHYD” project in the northern French city of Cappelle-la-Grande, which could help France meet its goal of 32% renewable by 2030. The project demonstrates the practicality and adaptability of hydrogen as an alternative energy solution.

Green hydrogen is produced by converting excess generated energy from renewable sources.

• The hydrogen is then combined with natural gases to produce the innovative energy solution “Hythane,” which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and can be adapted to fuel vehicles, as well space and water heating in homes and businesses. 
• This will also provide a solution for generators of energy from intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar power, as it provides a new approach to marketing the electricity they produce. 
• Currently, GRHYD technology is being demonstrated, fueling at least 50 buses with their special Hythane blend at an NVG bus fueling station as well as homes in the Dunkerque Urban Community.