hydrogen

Hydrogen trial fears loss of funding if explosion testing results published

The firm behind a Fife trial of hydrogen in homes has refused to release the findings of explosion testing because they could “damage participation”, “undermine funding”, and threaten the “continued viability” of the project.

hydrogen

SGN’s H100 project will test hydrogen as a greener alternative to natural gas for heating and cooking in a “world-first trial” at 300 homes in Levenmouth from 2024. 

Despite its mooted benefits for the climate, the safety of using hydrogen in homes has been the source of significant concern. Publicly-funded research last year found that using hydrogen to heat houses could cause four times as many fires and explosions as natural gas. 

Ahead of H100, SGN conducted simulated kitchen explosions to assess whether hydrogen poses more risk in houses than natural gas. The Ferret submitted an environmental information request (EIR) to SGN asking for details of these tests including videos and measurements taken during them. 

But the company refused to provide this information on commercial confidentiality grounds. It claimed that doing so could “undermine the project” and “result in the removal” of public funding from the Scottish Government and UK energy regulator, Ofgem

Critics of H100 said the “very least” participants deserve is “transparency” around the risk they face by taking part in the trial. “SGN’s refusal to share the results of explosion tests immediately makes you wonder what they are trying to hide,” one claimed. 

SGN said that “safety is at the heart of everything” it does and added that it is “engaging with the community to clearly explain all aspects of the project”. 

‘Undermine the project’

SGN – the owner of Scotland’s gas pipelines – is treated as a public body under EIR regulations, so members of the public can ask it to provide details of its environmental impact. 

The explosion testing was carried out by specialists, Kiwa, and involved injecting and igniting both natural gas and hydrogen in shipping containers which simulated a domestic kitchen. 

SGN refused to release videos or photographs of the explosions, charts or diagrams of measurements taken, or documents containing conclusions of the study. 

“We consider that the premature release of any information or reports could unnecessarily damage participation and undermine the funding and continued viability of the project as well as its purpose, which is to investigate low-carbon heating alternatives to natural gas,” its EIR response said.

SGN’s refusal to share the results of explosion tests immediately makes you wonder what they are trying to hide.

Dr Richard Dixon, former director of Friends of the Earth Scotland

“Release of information without the wider context which that information sits in could ultimately and unreasonably undermine the project and result in the removal of its funding, despite the huge investment SGN has made to ensure it is a success and the loss of public funding which has been provided,” the response continued. 

The Scottish Government has given £6.9m of funding to H100, while Ofgem granted it £18m through its Gas Network Innovation Competition

The company also argued that because H100 is set to inform a UK Government decision on the role hydrogen heating will play in meeting UK climate targets, there would be implications for the “UK’s net zero strategy” if the project was cancelled as a result of the explosion testing data being released.

The Ferret has submitted an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner arguing that releasing the information is in the public interest.

Safety worries

Home heating causes 14 per cent of UK carbon emissions, so finding a cleaner alternative to natural gas is essential if climate targets are to be met. Hydrogen is a touted solution because it does not produce carbon when burned. 

Hydrogen is the preferred alternative of the UK’s gas network owners – including SGN. Their pipelines could become stranded assets if there is a widespread switch to electricity for heat, rather than hydrogen, because electric heat pumps would not need these pipes. 

The gas networks argue that switching to hydrogen would be “low cost and low disruption” because much of the current gas network infrastructure could be repurposed for hydrogen. 

We are committed to engaging with the community to clearly explain all aspects of the project.

Waseem Hanif, SGN

Critics, however, claim that it will be more expensive and inefficient than other technologies like heat pumps and district heating schemes. 

There are also safety worries. Hydrogen is up to four times more likely to ignite, more prone to leaks and is more explosive than natural gas, according to SGN’s own analysis.

A UK Government study – Hy4Heat – last year found that explosion and fire events in the UK caused by home heating could increase from nine a year with natural gas to 39 a year with hydrogen. The consequences of these events could leave 65 individuals injured annually across the UK, compared to the current 17 for natural gas. 

Some information from SGN’s H100 explosion testing was published within the Hy4Heat programme of work, but this did not include videos, detailed measurements or the high-level findings of the experiments which The Ferret asked for in its EIR request.

According to Hy4Heat, annual injuries with hydrogen could be brought down to the level of natural gas with measures to reduce and detect leaks. But there would still be more fire and explosive events if hydrogen is used for domestic heating. 

When asked by The Ferret, SGN said “appropriate mitigation measures” will be in place, but declined to confirm whether this included fitting the excess flow valves, ventilation and hydrogen leak detectors that Hy4Heat said would be needed to bring safety risk down to the level of natural gas. 

Dr Richard Dixon, an environmental consultant and former director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, claimed that releasing information on the H100 explosion testing was “clearly in the public interest” and “SGN should be compelled to release it so people in the area can make up their own minds”. 

“SGN’s refusal to share the results of explosion tests immediately makes you wonder what they are trying to hide,” Dixon said. 

“This trial is at best a waste of time but at worst it is putting people in danger.”

We need to put an end to the confusion around heating and focus on delivering what we know works.

Gillian Campbell, Existing Homes Alliance,

Tom Baxter, a chemical engineering consultant and visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde, claimed that “hydrogen is an inherently less safe gas than natural gas”. 

He added that “over 30 independent studies” had shown hydrogen to be a more expensive option than heat pumps or heat networks. “Hydrogen will put more families into fuel poverty,” Baxter said. 

Gillian Campbell of the Existing Homes Alliance, claimed that The Ferret’s findings were “another nail in the coffin” of H100. 

“The very least participants in these trials deserve is transparency around risk. We need to put an end to the confusion around heating and focus on delivering what we know works – energy efficient homes and renewables-based heat pumps and heat networks,” Campbell claimed. 

Waseem Hanif, spokesperson for SGN said: “As safety is at the heart of everything we do, we’ve been working with the relevant authorities and industry to show that hydrogen can be used to replace natural gas for home heating.

“The recent government backed Hy4Heat study, which has been independently reviewed by the Health and Safety Executive, states that using hydrogen can be as safe as natural gas for heating and cooking in standard construction detached, semi-detached, and terraced houses. Appropriate safety mitigations will be in place and reviewed by the Health and Safety Executive.

“H100 Fife has the backing of the energy regulator Ofgem, the Scottish Government and crucially hundreds of residents. We are committed to engaging with the community to clearly explain all aspects of the project.”

Cover image from BEIS/Kiwa’s Hy4Heat project.

The Ferret has received funding from the Global Strategic Communications Council, a collaborative project hosted by the European Climate Foundation, to investigate the roll out of hydrogen technology in Scotland. The Ferret maintains complete editorial independence.

Full EIR Response from SGN:

This story was updated at 15:50 on 21 March 2023 to note that some of the information from SGN’s explosion testing was published in the Hy4Heat programme, but not the more detailed evidence asked for in The Ferret’s EIR request.

2 comments
  1. Scotland is a major military base and a testing ground for any project that comes to mind. The Amazon wind farm on the Argyll peninsula is solely for the use of Amazon. As usual the citizen (across the UK and fracking comes to mind) is the last consideration for politician or businessman.

  2. It is interesting how many of the extreme climate alarmists quoted here are opposed to hydrogen developments. Since hydrogen, although slightly more dangerous than natural gas, is a practical solution for both homes and vehicles which does not involve the future desired by the extremists whereby we shiver in our homes and are unable to travel outside our area. At the same time they push impractical solutions such as wind, solar and heat pumps which cannot provide the consistent supplies of electricity and heat needed even in England, never mind the North of Scotland.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi! To read more you need to login.
Not a member yet? Join our co-operative now to get unlimited access.
You can join using Direct Debit, payment card or Paypal. Cancel at any time. If you are on a low-income you may be eligible for a free sponsored membership. Having trouble logging in? Try here.
Hi! To read more you need to login.
Not a member yet?
Hi! You can login using the form below.
Not registered yet?
Having trouble logging in? Try here.