A new kind of power: How would it work?

Decarbonisation of the gas networks is necessary in order to achieve the Scottish and UK Governments’ net-zero emissions targets by 2045 and 2050, respectively, because when hydrogen is converted to heat, it releases no carbon dioxide.

Hydrogen is highly reactive and without the appropriate storage and handling methods in place, it can present an elevated fire and explosion risk.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says hydrogen has an extremely low density as a gas at atmospheric pressure and therefore would disperse quickly in open atmospheres.

This presents a risk in enclosed atmospheres as hydrogen would tend to spread quickly into the head of an enclosed space.

However, according to papers submitted with SGN’s planning application, a range of prevention, protection and mitigation measures would be implemented to reduce the safety risks.

Hydrogen would be produced using an electrolyser system, which creates hydrogen and oxygen from electricity and water, with the neighbouring wind turbines providing the primary electricity supply to the proposed development.

Based on the current project design, six storage tanks would be required to supply hydrogen to 300 homes and other ancillary buildings would be on site.

The project would generate 300 tonnes of hydrogen per year, with an onsite storage capacity of up to five tonnes, and suggestions are that construction of the demonstration network could begin as early as mid-2022.

Connection to that network would be on a voluntary, opt-in basis.