Simon Barnes, Funding and Partnership Development Manager of Research and Innovation Services (RIS) Operations has recently had his report ‘The role of hydrogen in achieving Net Zero’ on Hydrogen Demand in London, Kent and Essex accepted as Written Evidence by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. Here, Simon explains the future of Hydrogen demand in the South East:
‘It is broadly accepted that 2050 is now a set-in-stone deadline by which to deliver net zero carbon in the UK.
‘However, here in Kent and the wider region, our current energy demand is 85% provided from carbon-based fuels. This obviously requires drastic change, but how do we convert this to net zero and what other fuels may support our efforts?
‘Hydrogen is not an energy source in its own right. It is an energy vector produced from other forms of energy such as renewables, but also lower carbon intensive fuels, such as natural gas, that then can have carbon capture applied to allow for net zero. Therefore, it is clearly a prime tool in our efforts to achieve the net zero carbon target, but it must first be harnessed.
‘So, how much hydrogen might we demand in 2050 to help close the 85% gap? According to a range of estimates (from the Hydrogen Council, the European Union, etc.), hydrogen could make up to between 15%-20% of our energy demand by 2050 – a figure supported by research undertaken here at the University of Kent.
‘Our recent report, accepted as Written Evidence by the House of Commons, Science and Technology Committee, states that by 2050 London, Kent and Essex could need between 800,000 and 1.25 million tonnes a year of hydrogen to satisfy demand at this level. To put this into perspective, production capacity for the region is currently just 3,500 tonnes per annum.
‘Some sectors may adopt hydrogen more quickly and easily than others. Up to 20% of hydrogen use could be put into the UK gas grid relatively easily. However, this conversion to hydrogen is more complex than simply changing energy providers. For example, just to store hydrogen requires a high-pressure storage system that is typically at a high cost. The cost of a full hydrogen tank in a car is £2500, as opposed to a petrol or diesel component of similar capacity at £37.
‘Determining the demand and the rate of uptake is vital to this energy puzzle, requiring the input of sectors and businesses across the region, including institutions such as the University of Kent.
‘The University has researchers from Kent Business School working on the demand conundrum and system planners examining how to develop carbon infrastructure quickly and safely to satisfy demand. Meanwhile, our School of Physical Sciences is looking into the storage challenge and the School of Engineering and Digital Arts is researching carbon storage.
‘Hydrogen will be a vital to delivering net zero, but we must understand and appreciate this conversion’s impact for the region much more than we do now. There is still a long way to go.’
Simon Barnes, Research and Innovation Services (RIS) Operations
The University’s Press Office provides the media with expert comments in response to topical news events. Colleagues who would like to learn more about how to contribute their expertise or how the service works should contact the Press Office at pressoffice@kent.ac.uk