Government resists pressure to take stance on hydrogen for home heating

The government has resisted pressure to take a more decisive stance in relation to hydrogen for home heating, in the final version of its revised energy strategic policy statement (SPS).

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) revealed that it had received pressure from industry to be “more decisive” on the role of hydrogen and natural gas.

However, the long-awaited final version of the SPS fails to provide any additional detail in relation to hydrogen for home heating.

DESNZ said it has not included any further detail in respect to the role of hydrogen in decarbonising heating because the government needs more evidence before taking strategic decisions in the area.

The text of the SPS states that the government remains committed to delivering plans for a possible hydrogen town trial by 2025, with it feasibly being implemented by the end of the decade if hydrogen for home heating is deemed a plausible means of decarbonising heat.

This commitment to develop town-scale plans comes despite the abandonment of village-level exercises in both Redcar and Whitby over the last year following a backlash by opponents.

Recent months have also seen the National Infrastructure Commission declare that there is “no public policy case” for mass roll out of hydrogen in home heating.

While there is no more detail on hydrogen for home heating, the updated SPS has further strengthened provisions for hydrogen networks, transport and storage infrastructure.

In particular, the document adds that “enabling early feasibility studies for hydrogen network projects within and potentially beyond industrial clusters could contribute to the evidence base that will inform decisions in 2026 on the role of hydrogen for domestic heating”.

The production of an SPS has been promised for more than a decade since the passage of the 2013 Energy Act.

The SPS has been laid in Parliament and is due to come in force once it has been designated by the secretary of state for energy security and net zero.

The publication of the SPS came ahead of an announcement by the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) today that it has committed £30 million to support the expansion of UK-based green hydrogen pioneer GeoPura.

The UKIB said the transaction will facilitate the expansion of GeoPura’s production capacity, help to grow its specialist UK workforce and increase the deployment of its power generation technology.

The £30 million commitment is part of Geopura’s latest £56m financing round, which has also attracted ‘follow-on’ investment from Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and support from existing investors GM Ventures, SWEN Capital Partners, and Siemens Energy Ventures.

GeoPura aims by 2033 to manufacture 3,600 of its hydrogen power units, which are designed to replace diesel generators, in collaboration with its partner Siemens Energy.