‘World-first’ hydrogen project raises questions about its role in fuelling future homes

theguardian.com:

On the northern shores of the Firth of Forth, royal blue waters lap against the weathered walls of Methil Docks. The quays were once a hub for coal exports but, since the late 1970s, haven’t dealt in the black stuff. Now, the town on Scotland’s east coast is flirting with another era in the energy industry – but it doesn’t appear to be going to plan.

In what has been dubbed a “world-first project”, called H100, about 300 homes in Methil and neighbouring Buckhaven in Levenmouth were planned to be powered by “green hydrogen” gas from next year. Customers are offered free hydrogen-ready boilers and cookers under the scheme, scheduled to last at least four years.

In the £32m project, National Grid will use something other than natural gas in its distribution network for the first time in what is claimed will be the world’s first 100% hydrogen network for consumers. H100 hopes to address the need for alternative energy sources to gas, not least as heating accounts for about 37% of all UK carbon emissions.

However, the project has been hit by delays – including to the construction of a flagship “demonstration facility”. Some now openly question whether it is a worthwhile undertaking and whether hydrogen will play a significant part in fuelling the homes of the future.

Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water using electricity from renewables, with minimal emissions. Under the plans, an existing 7 megawatt, 200-metre-high offshore wind turbine would be used to power an electrolyser on the nearby Fife Energy Park before the hydrogen is stored and transported to homes through a newly laid network of pipes.

Households were due to be connected during 2023 with the project running through to the end of March 2027, in theory saving