COMMERCIAL HEATING | PRODUCT NEWS HYDROGEN TRIALLED IN COMMERCIAL SETTING Milford Haven hybrid trial combined hydrogen-fuelled boiler with air source heat pump and smart controls A smart hydrogen hybrid heating system has been demonstrated in a commercial building at the Port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, in what has been hailed as a world first. The trial combined a hydrogen-fuelled boiler with an electric air source heat pump, alongside smart control technology. The aim was to prove the effectiveness of the hybrid technology solution, which could play a role in helping the UK to reach its net zero target. The trial was part of the UK Research and Innovation-funded Milford Haven: Energy Kingdom project, and partners included the Port of Milford Haven, Worcester Bosch, Passiv UK, Wales & West Utilities, Kiwa UK, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, and Pembrokeshire County Council. Hybrid heating systems are designed to switch between using renewable electricity when its available, and green gases, such as hydrogen, at other times. The trial partners claim that using clean fuel in this way will enable the full decarbonisation of heat, while ensuring cost and carbon-emissions reductions are prioritised. They claim that such hybrid solutions could be a cheaper and less disruptive Baxi publishes nondomestic hydrogen guide Baxi has released a new educational guide on hydrogen for heating targeted at the non-domestic sector. Its Commercial guide to hydrogen for heat is aimed at debunking myths surrounding hydrogen in heating applications, while outlining the potential for hydrogen to become a central pillar of decarbonisation in the UK. The guide looks at the role of hydrogen in the move to net zero, and how the transition from natural gas to hydrogen is likely to happen. To download the free guide, visit www.baxiheating.co.uk/hydrogenguide#hydrogen alternative for the UKs building stock that is not suitable for a standalone heat pump solution, and that these systems could be fitted as a quick and direct replacement to a typical boiler system. They cite research suggesting that almost 50% of UK properties are not suitable for standalone heat pumps. The hydrogen boiler installed for the project was developed by engineers at Worcester Bosch as part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategyfunded Hy4Heat project. Kiwa UK delivered bottled hydrogen to the Worcester Bosch boiler to simulate periods when renewable electricity was unavailable to run the heat pump, or when a temperature boost was required. The smart controls were designed by Passiv UK and integrated with the system to switch automatically between the air source heat pump and the hydrogen boiler. Every two minutes, the system assesses energy generation mix and renewable electricity availability on the local grid, requesting that the boiler run on hydrogen when renewable power is unavailable. Hydrogen produces zero carbon emissions during combustion. Tom Veli, project director at Passiv UK, said: Flexibility solutions such as the Passiv UK smart hydrogen hybrid heating control offer the ability to make use of renewable electricity, when cheap and plentiful, to warm up the building fabric, and then fall back on hydrogen as an alternative fuel during periods of peak demand for electricity. Responding to renewable generation and network requirements in real time enables demand to become more agile, as opposed to static, creating carbon savings, customer savings and commercial opportunities for a smarter, decentralised grid that is powered fully by renewable energy. The Milford Haven: Energy Kingdom project is a great example of this. Commenting on the trial, Carl Arntzen, CEO at Worcester Bosch, said: Last year, our prototype hydrogen boiler was showcased in a domestic setting in Gateshead, but this is the first-ever commercial application of the technology, the first hydrogen hybrid, and the first retrofit of a hydrogen boiler into an existing building. The Milford Haven: Energy Kingdom project is one of the detailed design projects that is taking place within the scope of the Prospering from the Energy Revolution programme of works funded by UK Research and Innovation, as part of its Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. The aim is to design a blueprint for smart local energy systems fuelled by renewable energy and hydrogen and, more specifically, how to create demand and make the distribution and use of green hydrogen financially viable within buildings, industry, power and transport. CJ 34 May 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE May 22 pp34-35 Heating News Supp PL.indd 34 22/04/2022 15:21