Energy sector team up to promote hydrogen

The gas industry’s big hitters have teamed up to launch a campaign to raise awareness of hydrogen for heating and to call on the government to commit to a hydrogen future.

The Hello Hydrogen campaign sees gas distribution networks, boiler manufacturers and energy suppliers come together to raise households’ awareness of the low-carbon gas’s role in reducing CO₂ emissions.

Its information hub aims to inform people about new hydrogen-ready boilers and cookers that could be used to heat their homes in the future. It also wants to highlight the ease in which homes will be able to install the new hydrogen-ready boilers like for like with old gas boilers at the end of their life in a cost-efficient way, especially in households that might not have space for alternative heating options such as heat pumps.

Campaign director Angela Needle says: “We think now is the perfect time to begin the conversation about how we will all heat our homes in the future. We want households to know that there will be numerous ways to warm up their radiators or cook their dinner and hydrogen could be the right choice for them.

“For too long, consumers have only heard about expensive options that take up lots of space, to make their homes greener. We want them to know other, more affordable choices will be available.

“We now need the government to get behind our campaign and show real commitment to a hydrogen future so the energy sector can start the huge investment needed to make it a reality.”

Campaign chair, Victoria Billings of Worcester Bosch UK, says: “The industry is coming together to build a hydrogen future that means household bills are no longer linked to global events.

“That’s why we’ve launched the Hello Hydrogen campaign: to make sure consumers are kept fully informed of the choices they have for the future of heating their homes.

“We want hydrogen-ready boilers to play their part in heating homes across the country, knowing they will fit in the same place as traditional boilers and will cost the same price, but we need to know the government are fully behind hydrogen as a choice for millions of households.”

The Hello Hydrogen campaign is funded by the gas industry. Funders include Cadent Gas, Northern Gas Networks, Wales and West Utilities, SGN, IGEM, National Grid; boiler manufacturers Baxi, Worcester Bosch, Valliant, Ideal and Intergas; British Gas and Ryze Hydrogen.