Research and analysis

Hydrogen Appliances: Desk study on the development of the supply chain for 100% hydrogen-fired domestic and commercial appliances

This study, commissioned under DECC, investigates the feasibility of developing a supply chain for domestic and commercial appliances that could use 100% hydrogen instead of natural gas.

Documents

Hydrogen appliances report

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Details

One proposal for the long term decarbonisation of heat is to replace natural gas with hydrogen. To do this, it would be necessary to develop appliances, such as boilers, hobs, ovens and industrial burners that can use 100% hydrogen instead of natural gas.

The aim of this study was to investigate the technical challenges and costs associated with developing such appliances and to discuss how these barriers might be addressed.

The study covers 4 areas:

  • Safety issues, training and standards (both product and installation standards)
  • Costs and timetables for the development of different hydrogen appliances for small numbers of prototype appliances (around 1,000)
  • Costs and timetables for the development of appliances for large scale roll-out (around 100,000 per year.

This study included a review of the available information about technologies for using hydrogen to supply heat, primarily in domestic settings but also at larger scale in the industrial, public and commercial sectors.

Stakeholder engagement was undertaken with a range of natural gas appliance manufacturers and trade bodies.

Published 16 November 2016