Heat pumps

THE government’s new Hydrogen Strategy is welcome but it doesn’t mean we can do without heat pumps and retro-fitted insulation to keep our homes warm.

In the UK hydrogen is not an energy source – like electricity it is a medium for distribution and storage of energy. ‘Green hydrogen’ is made from low carbon energy.

‘Blue hydrogen’ is made from natural gas with consequent CO2 emissions which may be reduced by ‘carbon capture and storage’ at additional cost.

Sir John Redwood, August 26, says that the scale of the government’s plans “implies pessimism about the speed of expansion and take up of this new wonder fuel” and notes that “Producing green hydrogen will take a lot of renewable power.” I think it’s going to take time and it’s not going to be cheap – but it will be important.

Premium uses for hydrogen are likely to be in industry and heavy transport vehicles not in home heating.

The strategy says “trials and planning work … will enable strategic decisions by 2026 on the role of hydrogen for heat”.

Trials are likely to be in the north east of England where there is potential for undersea storage of both hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

The great thing about heat pumps is that they deliver up to three or four times more energy as heat than they use as electricity.

The challenge for government is to implement fair and effective ways to make their capital costs affordable.

The ‘Green Deal’ and ‘Green

Homes Grant’ schemes have both failed – the anticipated ‘Heat and Buildings Strategy’ must succeed.

John Booth, Earley