The world’s first smart hybrid hydrogen heating system has been demonstrated in Pembrokeshire. The trial was part of the UK Research and Innovation-funded Milford Haven: Energy Kingdom project.
The innovative technology could help the UK reach its 2050 target of Net Zero, which aims to see de-carbonisation of all sectors of the economy.,
The trial was part of the UK Research and Innovation-funded Milford Haven: Energy Kingdom project.
It was successfully implemented by a collaboration of partners – Port of Milford Haven, Passiv UK, Wales & West Utilities, Kiwa UK, Worcester Bosch, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, and Pembrokeshire County Council.
The trial combined a hybrid hydrogen-fuelled boiler with an electric air-source heat pump alongside smart control technology and it was conducted in a commercial building at the Port of Milford Haven, the UK’s largest energy port.
According to The Energy Saving Trust, emissions from home heating and hot water need to be cut by 95 per cent to meet 2050 UK Net Zero targets, and hybrid hydrogen and heating technology will become increasingly important both for commercial and domestic customers.
Hybrid hydrogen heating systems can flexibly switch between using renewable electricity when it’s available, and green gases like hydrogen at other times.
For many existing homes and businesses, hybrid hydrogen and heating systems offer an affordable and practical way to decarbonise heating.
Research suggests that almost 50 per cent of UK properties are not suitable for standalone heat pumps due to their poor thermal properties and other limitations.
Hybrid hydrogen heating systems are a cheaper, and less disruptive alternative that can be fitted as a quick and direct replacement to a typical boiler system. In the Milford Haven demonstration, Kiwa UK delivered bottled hydrogen to the Worcester Bosch boiler to simulate periods when renewable electricity was unavailable to run the heat pump, or when a temperature boost was required.
The smart controls were designed by Passiv UK and switch between the air source heat pump and the hydrogen boiler.