As experts in the transportation and storage of natural gas, the quality measurement and metering, and having worked in H2 for 30 years, we’re at the forefront of this transition to hydrogen. We’re UK-based, designing and manufacturing everything we install here and we believe it’s inherent in our role to play a critical role to help make the UK a world leader in both technology and overall decarbonisation, to help others make significant progress in the energy transition.
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Hydrogen (H2) is a clean alternative to methane, also known as natural gas. Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of resources, such as natural gas, nuclear power, biogas and renewable power like solar and wind. The challenge is harnessing hydrogen as a gas on a large scale to fuel our homes and businesses. For many years, we’ve used natural gas to heat our homes and businesses, and for power stations to generate electricity. In the UK, 85% of homes and 40% of the country’s electricity currently relies on gas. Methane is the main constituent of 'natural gas' from oil and gas fields. We’ve continued to use natural gas because it’s a readily available resource, it’s cost effective and it’s a cleaner alternative to coal – the dirtiest fossil fuel that we historically relied on for heating and to generate electricity.
When natural gas is burnt, it provides heat energy. But a waste product alongside water is carbon dioxide, which when released into the atmosphere contributes to climate change. Burning hydrogen does not release carbon dioxide.
To make hydrogen a viable energy carrier requires low-cost, high-efficiency production, transport and storage. Although most commercial hydrogen production today is based on nuclear energy, splitting water thermo-chemically is gaining momentum. This route is also favoured by the development of fuel cells that require a low level of impurities to use commercially produced hydrogen. Current costs of electrolysers are high but declining. The production of hydrogen from fossil fuels on a large scale will need integration of CCUS if GHG emissions are to be avoided.
Helix Business Park,
Newbridge Road,
Ellesmere Port, CH65 4LR
Bilfinger nZero, now part of Bilfinger UK Limited
