28
Building Services Engineering l July/August 2021
DOMESTIC BOILERS
Committing to a more sustainable future Given the similar marketplace environment for domestic boilers in the UK and Ireland, and the fact that the same brands are distributed in both countries, developments in the UK very often impact/influence trends in Ireland. In that context it is interesting that the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC), together with leading UK boiler manufacturers, recently sent a letter to the UK Prime Minister on the subject. In it they pledged to support any future Government legislation that mandates for all new models of domestic boilers to be “hydrogen-ready” from 2025. Here, Stewart Clements, Director of the HHIC, discusses why this is an important step and explains what it could mean for system designers and installers.
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 and a longterm commitment to repurpose current gas networks for hydrogen. Indeed, the UK commitment to hydrogen reflects, and is actually ahead of, similar plans for the broader role of hydrogen by the EU as a key plank in its aim to eliminate its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Defining hydrogen-ready The HHIC unveiled a new definition for hydrogen-ready appliances in November 2020. It describes them as gas appliances that “out of the box” are designed and approved to be installed “for use with natural gas and, following a conversion and re-commissioning process in-situ, can then continue to operate safely and efficiently using hydrogen”. Hydrogen-ready boilers are already being produced and trialled as part of the UK Hy4Heat programme with great success, in a scheme driven by the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Similarly, BEIS is currently working in partnership with gas distributor Northern Gas Networks (NGN) and gas distribution network company Cadent to build houses that will showcase the use of 100% hydrogen for domestic heating and cooking.
Stewart Clements, Director of the HHIC.
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 developed and installed with a view to one day running on hydrogen. In addition to being low-carbon, hydrogen is also one of the least disruptive means of decarbonising homes.
Domestic Boilers Intro.indd 2
20/06/2021 09:50
