It’s been reported that natural gas-only boilers could be banned within just three years, according to recent net-zero proposals. This could mean all boilers installed after 2026 would need to be hydrogen-ready. Hydrogen is already being tested in the national grid, where natural gas is being blended with 20% hydrogen. Winlaton in Gateshead was the first area to receive a hydrogen blend through the public natural gas network, where 668 homes, a school, several small businesses and a church all ran on natural gas, which was blended with 20% hydrogen.
This project has been deemed a big success.
While there are initial concerns over the cost of hydrogen, the environmental benefits could be huge, as long as the hydrogen is produced in a carbon neutral. Research from the government has estimated that between 20% and 35% of the UK’s energy usage across all sectors may be hydrogen-based by 2050. This estimate is also backed by the CCC (Committee on Climate Change).
Bringing the ‘ban’ date nine years forward
Banning gas-only boilers by 2026 would be a considerable milestone in the UK’s net-zero ambition. Although if this was to come to fruition, it would mean many existing boilers on the market becoming obsolete. The ban on gas-only boilers is actually already scheduled to come in by 2035. This proposal is looking at bringing this date forward by nine years to 2026 in a bid to hasten the journey towards net-zero.
This proposal is being seen by many in the heating industry as an alternative to installing heater pumps, which can cost up to £15,000 each. Heater pumps can reduce your CO2 emissions and have low running costs, but the upfront cost is an issue for many, and they can be hard to install. You also need to get a very good understanding of the movement of heat and local geology in your specific location and also know your heating and cooling requirements for your household. They are not entirely carbon neutral either.
Poorly Insulated Homes
Boilers installed from 2026 would still be able to run on gas, but with a few upgrades, they could be converted to use hydrogen. Many homes in the UK have relatively poor insulation, so hydrogen could be an attractive alternative. It’s thought that homes in the UK which are poorly insulated could be costing almost £1,000 a year more in gas.
This is based on research from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), which found UK homes rated band F for energy performance are likely to have gas bills £968 higher than homes in band C. Most of the homes in the UK date back before 1990 when energy efficiency was not regulated.
It’s not just a problem from an environmental viewpoint either, it’s estimated that the NHS spends £1.4bn a year treating people affected by poor housing.
Boiler manufacturers have made a promise that hydrogen-ready boilers will cost no more than their gas-only predecessors. This will mean around 1.7 million homes a year will be ready for net-zero at no extra cost. The benefits of well-insulated and efficient homes, which produce lower emissions, are considerable. Blending up to 20% hydrogen into the gas grid with 80% existing natural gas could save up to 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year. Hydrogen only emits water when it burns. But creating it can be carbon intensive. Depending on production methods, hydrogen can be grey, blue or green – and sometimes even pink, yellow or turquoise.
Green Hydrogen
Its green hydrogen that is the only type produced in a carbon-neutral way that will be key to reaching net-zero by 2050. Green hydrogen is defined as hydrogen that is created for energy use, via electrolysis, by using only renewable sources to generate the required electricity in the first place such as wind, solar or hydro. Only a few weeks ago the government announced a £102 million funding package for nuclear and hydrogen technologies, where an additional £25 million funding was announced for new technologies that will generate clean (green) hydrogen from biomass and waste. For hydrogen to be a viable way forward, it’s important it’s produced in a green way.
What about oil boilers?
A number of off-grid homes, over one million of them in the UK, which don’t have access to the gas network also face changes, as oil boilers are also set to be banned by 2026. This means when your boiler fails, and you need to renew it, you will not be able to buy an oil boiler replacement.
Or could you?
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) produces up to 90% fewer carbon emissions than regular heating oil (kerosine). With a few modifications to your current oil boiler, you could be able to switch to this much cleaner fuel. Over the last 18 months, there have been trials set to collect data for using HVO in home oil boilers. This experiment includes 150 buildings in total, which are all being tested to run on such. UKIFDA and OFTEC have recently said this trial now includes tests in the village of Kehellan, Cornwall – where 17 homes, a church and a school building have been converted from kerosine to HVO. They are gathering evidence on how viable this fuel is as a clean, realistic alternative. This could be ideal for homes that don’t want or can’t afford a heater pump. The cost of such a conversion is thought to be in the region of £500.00.
More information on this development will be reported as news becomes available.
