HSE secures additional funding to provide safety evidence for hydrogen future

H21, the UK gas industry programme focused on converting the network to carry 100% hydrogen, has recently been awarded a further £6.8 million in Ofgem innovation funding to support a second phase of research and development.

The collaborative industry project, led by Northern Gas Networks, is establishing the critical safety evidence to prove a hydrogen network is a viable alternative to the natural gas network heating UK homes and businesses today.

This second wave of funding builds upon the first phase of work which focused on leakage testing of assets and consequence testing of different leakage scenarios and was carried out at the HSE Science and Research Centre, in Buxton, Derbyshire.

HSE will continue to provide its expertise during Phase Two when it will technically appraise the existing natural gas network procedures. HSE experts will refine and evaluate the procedures and components used within the current distribution network and provide the evidence base should it need to change for 100% hydrogen.

Stuart Hawksworth, who leads HSE’s research and consultancy in the area of energy and major hazards, and is the current President of the International Association for Hydrogen Safety, commented:

We are delighted to continue our involvement in this project. HSE has built an impressive portfolio of work to support the safe introduction of decarbonised energy technologies. Our contribution to projects such as HyDeploy, HyTunnel and H21, as well as our pioneering work in the safety of lithium-ion batteries, is positioning HSE as the key project partner for the safe introduction of new energy technologies.

Want to know more? Join us at our next event: The Future of Gas III

Recognising that knowledge sharing and industry collaboration will be key to helping the UK make a safe decision on future energy policy, HSE is delighted to announce ‘the Future of Gas III’.

Back for its third year, this two-day event brings together key players from industry, government, research and standards-making to share knowledge, insight and current thinking and overcome the health and safety challenge of innovating and regulating hydrogen as a future energy source.