Redcar hydrogen trial scrapped after 'lack of supply'

It had faced strong opposition from local residents and energy experts who see using hydrogen for home heating as inappropriate.

Around 2,000 people were going to have their gas boilers replaced with hydrogen ones with the Government wanting to legislate to allow gas companies to forcibly change them against the will of residents.

This plan was scrapped at another proposed trial site in Ellesmere Port in north-west England because of local opposition.

To supply hydrogen to peoples’ homes, gas networks – who were to run the trials – wanted to pipe it through the existing gas infrastructure, which would be unsafe to do so unless everyone on that network changed their boilers.

Cadent, the north-west operator, planned instead to build an entirely new network of pipes to supply hydrogen before the Government said it would no longer support the trial there, announcing today that it will no longer support the one in Redcar either.

Dawn Campbell, a Redcar resident, said: “I hope this decision will ensure that any future proposals on the inevitable changes required in meeting our energy needs are made together with independent experts and residents and identify the questions and answers that have caused so much stress in this community.”

Michael Liebreich, Bloomberg New Energy Finance founder, said stopping the trial was the “right decision” and to go ahead with it “would have been deeply unfair” to the people of Redcar.

Secretary of State for Energy Security Claire Coutinho said the Government will still make a decision in 2026 on whether hydrogen is suitable for home heating, using evidence from similar trials in Fife and across Europe.

Alice Harrison, fossil fuels campaigner with Global Witness, said: “The Redcar hydrogen trial was a red herring. Using hydrogen to heat homes is dangerous, energy-intensive and more expensive than other low-carbon technology like heat pumps.”

Professor David Cebon, co-founder of the Hydrogen Science Coalition, said: “The Government should be congratulated for following the scientific evidence about the unsuitability of hydrogen for heating.

“This decision means that the UK can reduce carbon emissions much more quickly and economically, using a sixth of the renewable energy of heating with green hydrogen.

“Any green hydrogen can now be used for important industrial processes like making fertiliser and steel.

“Other countries should follow suit – to help the world get to net zero emissions as quickly as possible.”

Experts had warned that using hydrogen for homes would require such large amounts that some of it would have to be imported or supplied with blue hydrogen – so called as it requires burning fossil fuels to produce – which would negate the point of switching from gas.

They said using green hydrogen – which is produced with renewable energy only – should be used sparingly for industries that are difficult to remove from fossil fuels whereas heat pumps or other low-carbon systems can be used to heat homes.

The Government said it is investing £2 billion into 11 green hydrogen projects over the next 15 years to help supply industry with renewable power.

EDF Renewables UK and Hynamics, a 100% subsidiary of EDF Group specialising in hydrogen, have secured funding from the government’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF) for their North East-based Tees Green Hydrogen project.

The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund is a £240 million programme overseen by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, aiming to support the commercial deployment of hydrogen production projects across the UK as part of the UK Government’s wider decarbonisation strategy.

The project will provide a boost to local industry and transport by supplying green hydrogen to support decarbonisation efforts and achieve a significant reduction in industrial pollution, securing its long-term sustainability. 

EDF Renewables UK will now progress towards Phase 1 of the project. In its initial phase, the electrolyser will have a 7.5MW capacity. It is hoped that work could begin on site in 2025, with the facility operational by 2026. Future phases will seek to deliver up to 300MW in Teesside before 2030.

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These projects will create 700 jobs, the Government said, and will supply a Port Talbot paper mill, a whisky distillery in Scotland and a logistics company in Teesside, which will swap diesel for hydrogen in their vehicles.

Ms Coutinho said: “Hydrogen presents a massive economic opportunity for the UK, unlocking over 12,000 jobs and up to £11 billion of investment by 2030.

“Today’s announcement represents the largest number of commercial-scale green hydrogen production projects announced at once anywhere in Europe.”

Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North, said: "This is yet another flimsy excuse from the Conservative Government when it’s obvious that they had failed to take the Redcar community with them by ignoring their concerns.

"It’s nonsense to suggest Teesside couldn't produce the necessary hydrogen and this is a slap in the face for local industry and the jobs and training opportunities this scheme would have provided.

"This cancellation is more about attempting to shore up support for the Conservative Tees Mayor and Redcar MP who are also culpable for this failure.

“We know that hydrogen could have a major role to play in home heating but its critical to build the confidence of communities if it is to go ahead. 

"For the government to simply shelve the idea of hydrogen for heating for years to come shows a lack of ambition and forward thinking.”