Hydrogen Gas Boilers for Central Heating

Well, a decision needs to be made, sooner rather than later, as to what form of energy will be the best alternative for millions of families throughout the UK as natural gas is reduced and or mixed/replaced with hydrogen.

The government is focused on phasing out natural gas boilers by 2025. All new homes built will be architecturally designed to use an alternative carbon-neutral form of energy. Don’t worry, you won’t be cut adrift from gas supplies in 2025! With the way the rollout is going, you will still be heating your home in the same old way with the same fuel well beyond 2025.

Due to the current low demand for more efficient alternative energy boilers. ie, hydrogen, heat pumps, geothermal etc means manufacturing costs are really expensive and out of reach of the majority of households in the UK! It will be several years before demand increases bringing down manufacturing costs. Until then, prices will remain unaffordable and installations well below any optimistic targets set by the government! 

However, it’s worth exploring the alternative options available (now) that demonstrate every householder is, at least, doing their bit to combat global warming. Householders cannot do it alone, it will also require a massive contribution from multinational industries!

The good news is that gas boilers are now being manufactured to be hydrogen ready and still be able to run on natural gas. When the switchover is complete they can be easily modified to run 100% on hydrogen. Unfortunately, the switchover deadline, as yet, has not been put out in the public domain.

The burning of natural gas produces harmful gases such as Carbon Monoxide (the silent killer). With hydrogen, there’s no CO or carbon dioxide produced making them much safer.

A Hydrogen boiler creates hot flue gases, via the combustion of hydrogen gas, which heats the water. Think of your regular boiler, that burns natural gas, it will be replaced with hydrogen and supplied through the same network of pipelines. 

Without any clear direction as to the switchover deadline, it makes it difficult for us to choose which clean energy boiler is the best option for the family’s needs. Also, buying a hydrogen boiler begs the question: will it be ‘old’ technology by the time we switch over from 100% natural gas to a blend of natural gas/hydrogen?

Hydrogen Gas Boilers have a much lower impact on the environment because water is the only byproduct produced as hydrogen burns. As water is produced it needs to exit the system via a condensate, easily installed by serviceteam Ltd gas engineers.

The government wants the UK to be carbon neutral by 2050 as the UK, according to the CO2 Emissions, from Fuel Combustion (2020 Edition) which ranks the UK at 17th with 1.1% of global emissions, which is not bad, we’re going in the right direction compared to other nations. Everyone just needs to continue this positive trend.

So, what can we do? It’s fair to say boiler technology has moved on considerably in terms of design to help reduce our carbon footprint a third of which (yes, a third) comes from UK homes! 

If the UK is to meet its ambitious climate change targets, then changes to fuel, and boiler technology is essential! 

Each and every householder needs to buy into the scheme although there will be some (in fuel poverty) who won’t be able to ‘step up’ due to cost? However, at the grassroots level, hydrogen gas boilers in the home will certainly help to reduce greenhouse gases.

Well, it’s going to be a big challenge changing the nation over to Hydrogen gas boilers (totally) within a given time frame. If the government is expecting the public to fund the change, without a loan or grant it could push out the Government’s net zero targets?

The information is sparse at the moment and moreover, if the course of action is unclear the ‘take up’ by the general public will be lower and take much longer than planned!

The phases of the transition are:

• Part 1: All new boilers are to be manufactured to a hydrogen-ready spec. The new feature design makes them able to accommodate 100% hydrogen. It has been said that by 2023-2025 this type of boiler should be available and installation ready.
• Part 2: The boiler will derive its energy from a 20% hydrogen blend, which simply flows naturally to the new gas boiler. Unfortunately, It will take time for the new blend/mix of natural gas and hydrogen gas to be on tap, which is not expected to be readily available until after 2028. 
• Part 3: The time frame, for the whole of the UK boilers to be 100% hydrogen and gas ready, is estimated to be by 2040! One thing, you will still be able to heat your home with an appliance that looks exactly the same as your existing boiler, with similar dimensions etc. and not need to make changes to the existing pipework/fittings etc. which will allow you to install the boiler in exactly the same position as the old one? Maybe, our search for an ‘environmentally friendly’ hydrogen boiler should take place in or after 2028, when the infrastructure is in place?

You may remember the UK government’s campaign to switch the gas supply of millions of the UK’s households from one fuel to another (town gas to natural gas), which started in 1968 and ended in 1976. It was a mammoth task to convert somewhere in the region of 40 million gas appliances nationwide. We might be on the cusp of experiencing a similar ‘switchover’ in terms of time before every household is converted?   

Already, some gas (not all) and combi boilers are deemed ‘hydrogen ready’. This can be advantageous for the homeowner as the conversion may not be as costly as first thought? Switching to hydrogen gas boilers will help to reduce the third of gases UK households are currently producing. No one other than ourselves can save the planet!