World’s first green hydrogen network could heat 300 homes in Fife town

If proposals are approved by the energy industry regulator Ofgem, an initial 300 homes in Levenmouth, will have access to hydrogen for heating and cooking within two to three years.

The project, called H100 Fife, will start construction in late 2020/early 2021 and is intended to provide critical evidence for a potential zero carbon energy source.

H100 Fife has passed the initial screening submission process for Ofgem’s annual Network Innovation Competition (NIC). SGN is now preparing to submit its full bid for funding this summer, which, if successful, will allow it to build a new, 100 per cent zero-carbon hydrogen network, using hydrogen produced through electrolysis powered by an offshore wind turbine.

The proposed hydrogen production, storage and network will run alongside the current natural gas system.

The system will be designed and built to ensure at least the same safety and reliability standards expected from the current gas system. On site storage will hold enough hydrogen to ensure supply won’t be disrupted during even the coldest weather conditions.

“Hydrogen is an exciting energy vector that at scale could provide similar levels of safe, secure, reliable and affordable energy to what we enjoy now, with minimal disruption for customers,” said Angus McIntosh, director of energy futures at SGN.

“The project will provide key national evidence for hydrogen’s role in the UK’s energy transition and critical insight into the customer value proposition of hydrogen for heat.”

Despite the challenges of Covid-19, SGN is confident that the project can be delivered as planned, ready for construction beginning in 2021 if its NIC bid is successful. The community will be kept informed throughout the project’s development, and if the project comes to fruition, residents will be invited to get involved late in 2021. A five-year fully operational phase is planned from 2022/2023 ahead of heat policy decisions expected in 2023/2024.