Hydrogen is to be used within a grid-connected gas-fired power plant for the first time in a pan-Humber tie up involving an energy giant and strongly-backed start-up.
Centrica is working with Hull green-tech pioneer HiiRoc to inject the clean feedstock into its peaking operations at Brigg. The trial, to start this time next year, follows a successful bid in the Net Zero Technology Centre’s £8 million Open Innovation Programme.
It comes as the owner of British Gas has also increased its shareholding in the three-year-old business to five per cent. Last November it was one of several investors to pump £28 million into HiiRoc alongside Melrose Industries, HydrogenOne, Cemex, Hyundai and Kia, who joined existing strategic investors Wintershall Dea and VNG.
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The proprietary technology - provided in modular form for deployment on-site - converts biomethane, flare gas or natural gas into clean hydrogen and carbon black, through an innovative thermal plasma electrolysis process. It results in a low carbon, or potentially negative carbon, ‘emerald hydrogen’.
Because the byproduct comes in the form of a valuable, solid, pure carbon it can be easily captured and used in applications ranging from tyres, rubbers and toners, and in new use cases like building materials and even as a soil enhancer.
Greg McKenna, managing director of Centrica Business Solutions, said: “Gas still plays a huge role in maintaining a secure, stable supply of power in the UK, with around 40 per cent of our power coming from natural gas. So, it’s vital that we find ways to reduce the carbon intensity of gas plants like that at Brigg.
“We’re delighted to get the grant funding from the NZTC in order to explore the role of hydrogen in providing the low carbon back-up power we’ll need in order to maintain security of supply as more renewable energy comes on stream.”
The 49MW plant, which sits next to a larger former plant currently being transformed into a large-scale battery operation, is designed to meet demand during peak times or when generation from renewables is low, typically operating for less than three hours a day. It was commissioned in late 2018.
It’s anticipated that during the trial, no more than three per cent of the gas mix could be hydrogen, increasing to 20 per cent incrementally after the project. Longer term, the vision is to move towards 100 per cent hydrogen and to deploy similar technology across all gas-fired peaking plants.
Tim Davies, HiiROC’s chief executive, said: “This exciting project with Centrica and the NZTC at the Brigg facility will be a first step on the journey to enable the decarbonisation of gas peaking plants. With the continued and crucial rollout of renewable energy generation, intermittency of power supply is a key issue, and the programme we are developing with Centrica will explore routes to address intermittency without generating CO2 emissions.”
Of the extra investment, which comes as the business looks to add to its National Avenue research and development plant with dedicated manufacturing spac, Mr Davies said: “HiiROC is pleased to have agreed Centrica’s extended commitment through their increased equity stake, cementing a fantastic partnership to enable Centrica and the UK to reduce emissions and generate low carbon hydrogen.”
Having undertaken the initial research and development from National Avenue, it is now looking to develop a new location in the city. It secured grant funding to help fit out the existing facility to produce and test its pilot units. further plans would see jobs created too, with an expanded development centre and first factory.
Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership is backing it. James Newman OBE, chair, said: “The new facility is being used to produce and test new pilot units, which could revolutionise the way in which hydrogen is produced. This innovative development of their cutting-edge plasma-based hydrogen units has never been done before. The wider benefits of the project will help to decarbonise energy intensive industries, not only in the Hull and East Yorkshire region, but has potential to be exported worldwide.”
Deputy chair of the LEP's investment panel, Stephen Savage,described it as "exactly the type of company and business activity" it should be supporting.
The development with Centrica has been welcomed by Alexander Stafford MP, chair of the Hydrogen All Party Parliamentary Group. He said: “This is the first time hydrogen will be used within a grid connected gas fired power plant in the UK, making this trial an important step forward towards realising the role hydrogen can play in decarbonising our energy system. It is an exciting milestone that will help accelerate the transition to a hydrogen economy and its role in achieving Net Zero. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Hydrogen will be following the progress of this trial keenly.”
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