Asked by: Lord Rooker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of hydrogen power stations to complement renewable energy.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Hydrogen to power can play a key role in a Clean Power system by providing low carbon dispatchable generation during lower renewable output periods. Hydrogen to power can deploy at a range of scales, providing a decarbonisation pathway for unabated gas generation, and when connected to large-scale hydrogen storage, can enable inter-seasonal low carbon electricity storage.
The government has committed to implement a hydrogen to power business model to support hydrogen to power deployment. The December 2024 hydrogen to power consultation response outlines the next steps government will take to deliver the business model.
Asked by: Lord Rooker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of hydrogen in the energy network to improve energy security.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government believes that the only way to guarantee our energy security is to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and towards homegrown clean energy.
Low carbon hydrogen will be a crucial enabler of a low carbon and renewables-based energy system and will help to deliver new clean energy industries which can support good jobs in our industrial heartlands and coastal communities.
Low carbon hydrogen will play a key role in delivering a decarbonised power system and can also provide very long duration energy storage, making use of curtailed electricity, which will support both a decarbonised electricity grid and increased energy security.
Asked by: Lord Rooker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what technical assessment they have made of the potential level of hydrogen blending with natural gas in the National Transmission System.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The GB transmission system operator (National Gas) has conducted trials on the safety of hydrogen blends of up to 2%, 5% and 20% by volume in the National Transmission System. The Department is working with the Health and Safety Executive to ensure that this evidence is assessed as efficiently as possible.
We intend to publish a consultation on blending hydrogen into the GB gas transmission network in the near future.
Asked by: Lord Rooker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial benefits to businesses of a core hydrogen network, instead of a small cluster network that requires business to provide local infrastructure.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We continue to assess the benefits that a core network could deliver to the hydrogen economy.
In the early years of the hydrogen economy, it is likely that most industrial demand for hydrogen will be located within industrial clusters where sites can share infrastructure. We are therefore prioritising the development of regional network infrastructure while we continue to review the case for a core network to connect regional networks in the future.
Asked by: Lord Rooker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consult on the issue of hydrogen transmission blending in 2025.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In December 2024 we set out an intention to consult on transmission-level blending within GB in early 2025 to gather evidence to inform the case for Transmission-level blending. We confirm that we intend to publish a consultation on blending hydrogen into the National Transmission System in the near future.
Asked by: Lord Rooker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had any discussions with the government of Ireland about the gas interconnector from the UK that supplies blended gas.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
None of the UK’s gas interconnectors currently supply or receive gas blended with hydrogen. The Department is engaging with officials from the Irish government and transmission system operator of Ireland to understand the implications of the EU hydrogen and gas decarbonisation package regarding hydrogen blending and to ensure continued cross-border trade of gas.
We intend to publish a consultation on blending hydrogen into the GB gas transmission network in the near future.
Asked by: Lord Rooker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Project HySpeed, in particular the project's impact on assisting faster decarbonisation solutions for UK foundation industries such as steel, cement and glass production.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Low carbon hydrogen is a critical sector for the UK and can play a key role in our mission to make the UK a Clean Energy Superpower. The Government’s existing policy framework has established an investable model to support the UK’s hydrogen economy, with our first Hydrogen Allocation Round delivering projects that will create over 700 new jobs and growth across the UK.
The Government acknowledges the Project HySpeed proposal but does not comment on individual projects. The Government will continue to assess whether current measures are sufficient to incentivise hydrogen production and use in key sectors.
Asked by: Lord Rooker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of domestic boilers that are ready for using blended gas.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Industry have conducted trials and tests on whether or not domestic boilers can accept gas blended with hydrogen up to 20%. The Department is working with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure that this evidence is assessed independently and robustly.
Asked by: Lord Rooker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan for a core hydrogen pipeline network to operate in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are committed to conducting analysis to assess the potential scale, pace and geography of developing a core network. In the early years of the hydrogen economy, it is likely that most industrial demand for hydrogen will be located within industrial clusters where sites can share infrastructure and access available supply. We are therefore prioritising the development of regional network infrastructure while we continue to review the case for a core network to connect regional networks in the future.
Asked by: Lord Rooker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much of the gas entering the UK via interconnector pipes is blended with hydrogen.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Whilst the EU has established a framework to allow Member States to blend up 2% hydrogen into their gas transmission networks, the Government can confirm that none of the gas entering the UK via interconnector pipes is currently blended with hydrogen. We will continue to monitor this area and engage with officials in relevant countries as and when required.