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Are Hydrogen Boilers The Future?
With the government setting targets to reduce carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, with a view to becoming net-zero by 2050, there are all kinds of actions being taken to enable them to meet these ambitious goals. One of which relates to using carbon alternatives, including hydrogen. It looks like hydrogen boilers will become the most widely used type of boiler installation soon, with natural gas becoming redundant. Scotland will become the first place in the UK to trial hydrogen appliances, with an expected 300 homes involved in the National Grid Hydrogen Project.
What are Hydrogen Boilers?
There is no noticeable difference in the appearance of a hydrogen boiler, compared to that of a gas boiler, and the boiler installation isn’t noticeably different either. These boilers are connected to the gas mains with hydrogen transported from there, as opposed to natural gas. Currently, there is no readily available stream of hydrogen, so you are unable to buy a hydrogen-ready boiler, although this is likely to happen within the next few years. It is also understood that gas boilers may be completely banned in new build properties in the not-so-distant future.
Why Choose Hydrogen Boilers?
We are living in a time when serious changes need to be made to alleviate the damage caused by climate change. The government is taking serious steps now due to ongoing concern and hydrogen boilers are just one way to make a difference. There are several reasons why hydrogen boilers are being used, and why they might even be a better solution than natural gas. The emissions of hydrogen boilers have no carbon, they only produce water. Therefore, they are better for reducing global warming. Once hydrogen becomes readily available, there won’t be any major changes needed to get the infrastructure in place. The only difference is changing the fuel supply; therefore, it can be rolled out quickly without causing any issues for gas engineers or homeowners/tenants. Hydrogen is also more efficient than natural gas, which means you will be able to heat your home in the same way, but with less fuel burning. This could reduce the cost of energy bills.
The Downsides
With the good, must come the bad and there are some known downsides to hydrogen boilers. The first one being that hydrogen is not yet available in the volumes that would be required to heat households on a nationwide basis. It may get there, but it is likely to be some time away yet. Also, hydrogen is more flammable than natural gas, although it doesn’t have an odour, so it is even more important to use a detector at home.
As we prepare to take more steps towards a better future environment, the installation of hydrogen boilers is just one of the actions we can take in our household to help with climate change. In the meantime, you may want to consider an energy-efficient combi boiler.
At Glasgow Boiler Company, we are here to advise on all of your boiler installation needs. You can get in touch with us and we will be happy to discuss your boiler installation in Glasgow.
