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UK government rejects Whitby hydrogen village trial
12/7/2023
News
Plans to pilot hydrogen to heating in 2,000 homes in Whitby, Cheshire, have been cancelled by the government due to a lack of support from the local community.
The scheme, run by gas network operator provider Cadent and partner British Gas, planned to use and reform current gas pipelines to transport hydrogen. Meanwhile, existing gas boilers would be replaced with hydrogen-compatible equivalents in order to power houses with the alternative fuel for a two-year period.
But Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Minister Lord Martin Callanan announced earlier this week on Twitter that: ‘After listening to the views of residents, it’s clear that there is no strong local support, therefore Whitby will no longer be considered as the location for the UK’s first hydrogen village trial.’
The decision to abandon the Whitby project leaves only one ‘hydrogen village’ available for potential support: Redcar in North Yorkshire. Callanan acknowledged ‘ongoing’ discussions with Northern Gas Networks and that the ‘next steps’ would be announced ‘shortly’.
In a subsequent statement, Cadent upheld its vision for hydrogen-powered homes: ‘We believe strongly in the role that hydrogen can play alongside other technologies and energy sources in reaching net zero. While Whitby won’t be the location for the trial, the information we have gained over the last 12 months will still play an invaluable role in shaping how the UK heats its homes and businesses in the future.’
The gas giant did not acknowledge the controversy surrounding the scheme; residents objected to testing the new technology and green groups continue to argue that a switch to heat pumps would be far more efficient at reducing overall emissions.
Cadent affirmed that: ‘We know that this will be disappointing to the many residents who told us they wanted their community to play a pioneering role in decarbonising how we heat our homes in the UK. We are incredibly grateful to everyone in Whitby who has given us their time and attention over the last year as we have developed our proposal.’
Meanwhile, Whitby resident Kate Grannell commented: 'We welcome the government and local council to review and discuss real pioneering green technology with communities, led by science rather than fossil fuel lobbyists.'
