British gas grid companies align in bid to build hydrogen infrastructure

All five of Britain’s gas grid firms have joined forces as part of a hydrogen strategy.

The Energy Network Association’s strategy entitled, Britain’s Hydrogen Network Plan, forms part of the association’s Gas Goes Green programme and it hopes the coalition of gas grid companies can contribute to the country’s sustainability targets.

Cadent, National Grid, Northern Gas Networks, SGN & Wales & West Utilities are responsible for owning and operating the pipelines that deliver gas to 85% of homes in Great Britain and the ENA’s plan sets out the framework they will undertake to meet the UK’s other hydrogen objectives, including being ready by 2023 to blend up to 20% hydrogen into local gas grids and to help the UK meet its hydrogen production target of 1GW by 2025 and 5GW by 2030.

The strategy is in line with the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan for A Green Industrial Revolution, which makes clear its intention of hydrogen use as a future sustainable energy source. Chris Train, ENA’s Gas Goes Green champion, explains the societal benefits of the proposed infrastructure, 'It’s about delivering meaningful choice for households, businesses and communities. And it’s about ensuring that the economic benefits of hydrogen are spread around the country, to take advantage of the breadth and scale of that transformation. Britain’s Hydrogen Network Plan sets out how our gas network companies will do all of that in the years ahead.'