Further government support for hydrogen production has faced mixed reaction after coinciding with a major trial being scrapped.
Though the government unveiled on Thursday that £2 billion would be spent on 11 hydrogen production projects over the next 15 years, news of the Redcar trial being cancelled made headlines.
This had been due to see homes in Redcar, Teesside fed hydrogen through mains pipelines, rather than gas.
“Without adequate local hydrogen production, it is no longer possible to deliver the project,” a spokesperson from Northern Gas Networks, which was to run the trial, said.
The scheme would have looked into the viability of blending and ultimately replacing natural gas with hydrogen.
Hydrogen itself can be less harmful for the environment, given it is produced using renewable energy, and has long been tipped as an alternative to fossil fuels.
Having announced beforehand that the trial would not go ahead, the government said: “Hydrogen blending may help achieve the UK’s net zero ambitions, but would have a limited and temporary role as the UK moves away from the use of natural gas.”
Northern Gas Networks added it was “disappointed” that the trial would not run, with another scheme at Ellesmere Port having been cancelled in July.
Concern from locals had seen the latter scrapped, including over safety and nitrogen oxide emissions from the use of hydrogen.
Government-backing will aim to encourage domestic production of green hydrogen - made through the process of electrolysis - with the 11 project developers also being assured they would receive a guaranteed price for the fuel they supply.
Environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth backed plans to boost green hydrogen production, dubbing it “essential for decarbonising industry and fuelling a green economy”.
“Friends of the Earth is calling for the roll-out of heat pumps to be sped up,” the group said, including through schemes ensuring these are no more expensive to fit than gas boilers.
Gas boilers themselves are anticipated to be banned in new builds from 2025, according to reports, with the government said to be finalising such plans currently.
“Today’s announcements provide a welcome signal-boost for companies looking to invest in the UK’s hydrogen future,” industry body Offshore Energy UK added, meanwhile.
“We must now maintain this momentum - putting UK companies at the forefront of this burgeoning opportunity.”