With hydrogen currently being explored as a viable option to transition the UK’s existing housing stock on the grid away from using gas, it is important that in the future boilers are being developed and installed with a view to one day running on hydrogen. 

Together with leading UK boiler manufacturers, the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) has recently pledged in a letter to the Prime Minister that they’ll support any future Government legislation which mandates all new models of domestic boilers to be “hydrogen-ready” from 2025. 

Today, all new boilers sold are condensing and there are over 10 million installed in UK homes. However, since 2005, government and the heating industry have been searching for ways to further improve the efficiency of domestic heating- the ‘condensing boiler’ equivalent. 

There has been progress along the way, from April 2018, when a gas combination boiler is installed, an additional energy efficiency measure is required. The policy, which now forms part of Building Regulations also requires a new minimum performance standard for domestic gas boilers in English homes to be set at 92% ErP.

Hydrogen ready boilers offer a sensible next step on the pathway to Net-Zero. Not only is it low-carbon, hydrogen is one of the least disruptive means of decarbonising homes. In fact, hydrogen-ready boilers offer the opportunity for people to continue to heat, cook and use hot water in the same way they do today, without ripping out pipes, boilers and in some cases floors. Hydrogen also flows in a similar way to gas, which means it could be used with the UK’s existing gas network infrastructure to heat homes. For these reasons, discussions are underway to help plan for a hydrogen-ready future.

Making the pledge 

UK boiler manufacturers have agreed in principle to support any future Government legislation which mandates that all new domestic boiler models must be hydrogen-ready from 2025. To this end, the HHIC has recently written to the Prime Minister confirming the commitment, which is several years ahead of similar action proposed within the EU. This is an important step in the UK’s journey to net-zero and showcases how the heating industry is prepared to support the Government to confirm it has the long-term plan to repurpose current gas networks for hydrogen. 

Steve Keeton, director of external affairs and future portfolio at Valliant Group and HHIC member said: “Vaillant Group supports the pledge that all new launches of domestic gas boilers after 2025 will be hydrogen ready, to prepare the groundwork for future conversion of the gas grid to hydrogen. This move requires commitment from The Government that hydrogen boilers will be one of the cornerstones of the UK’s zero carbon domestic heating proposal. We will need clarity on the strategy and milestones behind the rollout plan for hydrogen in the grid, to give the industry confidence in funding further development into hydrogen boilers and the associated supply chain.”

Defining hydrogen-ready

The HHIC unveiled a new definition for hydrogen-ready appliances in November 2020. This is described as a gas appliance that “out of the box” is designed and approved to be installed “for use with natural gas and, following a conversion and re-commissioning process in situ, can then operate safely and efficiently using hydrogen.

Hydrogen-ready boilers are already being produced and trialled as part of the Hy4Heat programme with great success, which is being driven by the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Similarly, BEIS is working in partnership with gas distributor Northern Gas Networks (NGN) and gas distribution network company Cadent, to build houses by April 2021 that will showcase the use of 100% hydrogen for domestic heating and cooking. 

Another project underway is the H100 Fife Community Demonstration, which is developing a world-first?hydrogen network in Levenmouth, that will bring 100% hydrogen heating in homes by 2022 and has been approved by Ofgem. In the project’s first phase, the network will heat around 300 local homes, which will rise to 1,000 homes in phase 2. This will involve using clean gas produced by a dedicated electrolysis plant, powered by a?nearby offshore?wind turbine. 

Hydrogen qualification

The success of hydrogen-ready boilers will rely on professional installers having the right support and training to safely install and convert them when the time comes. This is where the Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS) New Competence Framework for Hydrogen will come in. Once developed, the framework will enable engineers working with hydrogen-burning gas appliances to acquire the knowledge and skills required to operate in a competent and safe way. In the short-term, the Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers (IGEM) will develop an Interim Technical Standard.

With the many benefits of hydrogen to consider, it is for this reason that the HHIC and its members are advocating for a hydrogen-ready future. The recent commitment, made by leading boiler manufacturers and the HHIC, to support hydrogen-ready domestic boilers from 2025, is a core example of how a more sustainable future is a key priority and how the heating industry will be prepared for a low-carbon transition.