NGN launches hydrogen project office in Leeds as government announces £25m fund for hydrogen in homes

Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the North of England’s gas distributer, has officially launched its H21 Project Office in Leeds.

The office, which has been launched with the support of Leeds City Council, will help establish the city and wider region as the UK’s hydrogen centre of excellence.

The office will deliver innovation projects with a focus of providing evidence to support UK gas grid conversion from natural gas (methane) to zero-carbon Hydrogen.

The opening of the office also comes in the week following the Government’s pledge to commit £25m of funding for an innovative programme considering using hydrogen gas for heating in homes across the UK.

Mark Horsely, CEO of Northern Gas Networks, said: “We are delighted with the Government’s announcement of a £25m programme, which will provide significant amounts of the critical evidence required to allow a policy decision to convert the gas network to 100% Hydrogen.

“By opening our dedicated project office, we are taking a further step towards our hydrogen future and sending a signal to the Government and the rest of the industry that we are ready to work with them to deliver it.”

The dedicated office will bring together international talent from across the energy sector, academia, government and business to further examine and, build the foundations to deliver, the gas network conversion strategy set out by NGN in its H21 Leeds City Gate project.

The H21 Citygate project looked into the feasibility of substituting natural gas with hydrogen in the gas distribution network.

Mark continued: “Meeting the UK’s 2050 climate change obligations is a big challenge. Big challenges need big ideas and de-carbonising the UK gas networks through conversion to 100% hydrogen would represent the most significant single contribution to UK decarbonisation.”

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