World-first smart hydrogen hybrid heating system is unveiled in Pembrokeshire

Issued by Pembrokeshire County Council.

The world’s first smart hydrogen hybrid heating system has been demonstrated in Pembrokeshire proving technology that could help the UK get to Net Zero.

The trial was part of the UK Research and Innovation-funded Milford Haven: Energy Kingdom project. It was successfully implemented by a collaboration of partners – Port of Milford Haven, Passiv UK, Wales & West Utilities, Kiwa UK, Worcester Bosch, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, and Pembrokeshire County Council.

The trial combined a hydrogen-fuelled boiler with an electric air-source heat pump alongside smart control technology and it was conducted in a commercial building at the Port of Milford Haven, the UK’s largest energy Port.

According to The Energy Saving Trust, emissions from home heating and hot water need to be cut by 95% to meet 2050 UK Net Zero targets, and hybrid heating technology will become increasingly important both for commercial and domestic customers.

Hybrid heating systems can flexibly switch between using renewable electricity when it’s available, and green gases like hydrogen at other times. Using clean fuel in this way will enable the full decarbonisation of heat whilst ensuring cost and carbon emissions reductions are prioritised.

For many existing homes and businesses, hybrid heating systems offer an affordable and practical way to decarbonise heating. Research suggests that almost 50% of UK properties are not suitable for standalone heat pumps due to their poor thermal properties and other limitations. [1]For example, many of the UK’s aged housing stock would need disruptive and expensive energy efficiency improvements such as wall and floor insulation and new radiators to be effectively heated by a standalone heat pump system. Hybrid heating systems are a cheaper, and less disruptive alternative that can be fitted as a quick and direct replacement to a typical boiler system. 

In this demonstration, 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 seamlessly, automatically switching between the air source heat pump and the hydrogen boiler.  Every 2 minutes the system assesses GB energy generation mix and renewable electricity availability on the local grid, and requests the boiler to run on hydrogen when unavailable.  Hydrogen is a clean fuel that produces zero carbon emissions during combustion.

The hydrogen boiler installed as part of the hybrid system was developed by engineers at Worcester Bosch during the last 3 years as part of the BEIS-funded Hy4Heat project, designed to help the country achieve its target of Net Zero emissions by 2050.

Steve Edwards, Commercial Director at the Port of Milford Haven, said:

“Having already established itself as the UK’s Energy Capital, the Milford Haven Waterway is now at the centre of a renewable energy revolution, with huge potential to become the low carbon energy capital of the UK, safeguarding thousands of local jobs and creating thousands more new ones.

“To get to Net Zero, we must deliver Net Zero power, transport and heat and we have all the necessary components here on our doorstep in Pembrokeshire to act as a vital cluster of national significance”.

Wales & West Utilities, the gas network for Wales and south west England are one of the project partners. Matt Hindle, Head of Net Zero and Sustainability said:

“We’re committed to playing our part in helping communities across Wales and south west England go green. Between 2021 and 2026 we’re investing £400m to prepare our network to transport green gas like hydrogen and biomethane.”

“Hybrid heating systems can be easily retrofitted to existing housing stock, without costly changes to radiators or internal pipework, keeping disruption to homes and communities to a minimum. This trial has demonstrated how they can work with hydrogen in place of natural gas.”

“The UK Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy acknowledged that hybrids could play a transitional role in the 2020s and 2030s but contained no targets for their manufacture or installation. The 2020s must be a decade of delivery for Net Zero and we’d urge Government and policymakers to include hybrids in incentives and support schemes like the Clean Heat Grant, encouraging installations of hybrids to help towards achieving the 600,000 heat pumps per year target, alongside ongoing support to develop hydrogen for heating.”

Cllr Cris Tomos, Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for the Environment, Welsh Language and Public Protection said:

“The Council is proud to lead the Milford Haven: Energy Kingdom project which is positioning the Milford Haven Waterway as a frontrunner for the production, distribution and use of hydrogen. The projects heating and transport demonstrators demonstrate what can be achieved through collaboration with our partners and Pembrokeshire can use these innovations as we work to become a net zero carbon authority by 2030.” 

The Milford Haven: Energy Kingdom project is one of the detailed design projects within the Prospering from the Energy Revolution programme of works funded by UK Research and Innovation as part of their Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. The project has set out 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.

 

Notes to Editors

Tom Veli, Project Director at Passiv UK said:

“Flexibility solutions such as the Passiv UK smart hydrogen hybrid heating control offers 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 more expensive 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.”

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.  Within the hybrid heating system, the hydrogen can be used to boost heating during cold snaps, and to lessen demand on the electricity system during busy periods, or when there isn’t enough renewable energy available. For 50 years boilers have burned natural gas so to switch to hydrogen, which is a gas that is free from carbon, while maintaining heating and hot water in the same way as a traditional boiler is truly amazing.”

Mark Crowther, Technical Director of Kiwa UK said:

“We are very happy to have been part of this project, in organising the test work and preparing the Safety Case. This is a further demonstration of the future of hydrogen and builds on work under the BEIS Hy4Heat programme and many other experimental hydrogen projects we have worked on.”

Dr Stephen Wyatt, Research & Innovation Director of the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, one of the lead partners in the project, added:

“This world first is both an important milestone for the project, but crucially provides a concrete example of how we can achieve the energy transition using technologies which are readily deployable in our existing building stock.

“ORE Catapult is particularly excited about the potential for breakthrough hydrogen technologies to provide increased flexibility to the way we consume electricity, as we deliver greater amounts of green, affordable offshore wind off the coast of Wales and beyond”.

Caption: Converting the existing gas system to hydrogen.

For press queries, please email: presspublicrelations@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

The Council’s press releases are also available on the Authority’s website: http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk

 

[1] Hybrid Heating Great Britain Vision and Action Paper. Published by Guidehouse November 2021.

 

Dadorchuddio’r system wresogi hybrid hydrogen glyfar gyntaf yn y byd yn Sir Benfro

Mae’r system wresogi hybrid hydrogen glyfar gyntaf yn y byd wedi cael ei harddangos yn Sir Benfro, gan brofi technoleg a allai helpu’r Deyrnas Unedig i gyrraedd sero-net.

Roedd y treial yn rhan o brosiect Teyrnas Ynni Aberdaugleddau a ariennir gan Ymchwil ac Arloesi yn y DU. Fe’i gweithredwyd yn llwyddiannus gan grŵp o bartneriaid yn gweithio ar y cyd – Porthladd Aberdaugleddau, Passiv UK, Wales and West Utilities, Kiwa UK, Worcester Bosch, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, a Chyngor Sir Penfro.

Cyfunodd y treial foeler hydrogen â phwmp gwres ffynhonnell aer trydanol ochr yn ochr â thechnoleg reoli glyfar, ac fe’i cynhaliwyd mewn adeilad masnachol ym Mhorthladd Aberdaugleddau, sef y porthladd ynni mwyaf yn y Deyrnas Unedig.

Yn ôl yr Ymddiriedolaeth Arbed Ynni, mae angen i allyriadau o systemau gwresogi cartref a dŵr poeth gael eu cwtogi 95% i gyrraedd targedau sero-net 2050 y Deyrnas Unedig, a bydd technoleg wresogi hybrid yn dod yn fwyfwy pwysig i gwsmeriaid masnachol a domestig.

Gall systemau gwresogi hybrid gyfnewid rhwng defnyddio trydan adnewyddadwy pan fydd ar gael, a nwyon gwyrdd fel hydrogen ar adegau eraill. Trwy ddefnyddio tanwydd glân yn y modd hwn, gellir datgarboneiddio gwres yn llwyr ar yr un pryd â sicrhau bod gostyngiadau i gostau ac allyriadau carbon yn cael eu blaenoriaethu.

I lawer o gartrefi a busnesau presennol, mae systemau gwresogi hybrid yn cynnig dull fforddiadwy ac ymarferol o ddatgarboneiddio gwres. Mae gwaith ymchwil yn awgrymu nad yw bron 50% o’r eiddo yn y Deyrnas Unedig yn addas ar gyfer pympiau gwres annibynnol o ganlyniad i’w priodweddau thermol gwael a chyfyngiadau eraill. [1]Er enghraifft, byddai angen i lawer o hen stoc dai’r Deyrnas Unedig gael gwelliannau effeithlonrwydd ynni drud ac aflonyddol fel inswleiddio waliau a lloriau a rheiddiaduron newydd er mwyn iddynt gael eu gwresogi’n effeithiol gan system pwmp gwres annibynnol. Mae systemau gwresogi hybrid yn ddewis amgen rhatach a llai aflonyddol y gellir eu gosod yn gyflym ac yn uniongyrchol yn lle system foeler nodweddiadol. 

Yn yr arddangosiad hwn, darparodd Kiwa UK hydrogen wedi’i botelu i foeler Worcester Bosch i efelychu cyfnodau pan na fyddai trydan adnewyddadwy ar gael i redeg y pwmp gwres, neu pan fyddai angen tymheredd uwch. Dyluniwyd y rheolaethau clyfar gan Passiv UK ac fe’u hintegreiddiwyd â’r system yn ddidrafferth, gan gyfnewid yn awtomatig rhwng y pwmp gwres ffynhonnell aer a’r boeler hydrogen. Bob 2 funud, mae’r system yn asesu cymysgedd cynhyrchu ynni Prydain Fawr a faint o drydan adnewyddadwy sydd ar gael trwy’r grid lleol, ac yn gofyn i’r boeler redeg ar hydrogen pan na fydd ar gael. Tanwydd glân yw hydrogen nad yw’n cynhyrchu unrhyw allyriadau carbon yn ystod llosgi.

Datblygwyd y boeler hydrogen a osodwyd yn rhan o’r system hybrid gan beirianwyr yn Worcester Bosch yn ystod y 3 blynedd diwethaf yn rhan o’r prosiect Hy4Heat a ariennir gan yr Adran Busnes, Ynni a Strategaeth Ddiwydiannol (BEIS), a ddyluniwyd i helpu’r wlad i gyflawni ei tharged o allyriadau sero-net erbyn 2050.

Dywedodd Steve Edwards, Cyfarwyddwr Masnachol Porthladd Aberdaugleddau:

“Mae Dyfrffordd Aberdaugleddau eisoes wedi’i sefydlu ei hun fel Canolbwynt Ynni’r Deyrnas Unedig, ac mae bellach yng nghanol chwyldro ynni adnewyddadwy, sydd â photensial mawr i ddod yn ganolbwynt ynni carbon isel y Deyrnas Unedig, gan ddiogelu miloedd o swyddi lleol a chreu miloedd o rai newydd.

“I gyrraedd sero-net, mae’n rhaid i ni ddarparu pŵer, trafnidiaeth a gwres sero-net, ac mae gennym ni’r holl elfennau angenrheidiol yma ar ein trothwy yn Sir Benfro i fod yn glwstwr allweddol o arwyddocâd cenedlaethol”.

Un o bartneriaid y prosiect yw Wales & West Utilities, sef y rhwydwaith nwy ar gyfer Cymru a de-orllewin Lloegr. Dywedodd Matt Hindle, Pennaeth Sero-net a Chynaliadwyedd:

“Rydym wedi ymrwymo i gyfrannu at helpu cymunedau ledled Cymru a de-orllewin Lloegr i fynd yn wyrdd. Rhwng 2021 a 2026, rydym yn buddsoddi £400m i baratoi ein rhwydwaith i gludo nwy gwyrdd fel hydrogen a biomethan.”

“Gall systemau gwresogi hybrid gael eu hôl-osod yn rhwydd yn y stoc dai bresennol, heb newidiadau drud i reiddiaduron neu bibellwaith mewnol, gan darfu cyn lleied â phosibl ar gartrefi a chymunedau. Mae’r treial hwn wedi dangos sut gallan nhw weithio gyda hydrogen yn lle nwy naturiol.”

“Cydnabu Strategaeth Gwres ac Adeiladau Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig y gallai systemau hybrid gyflawni rôl bontio yn y 2020au a’r 2030au, ond nid oedd yn cynnwys unrhyw dargedau ar gyfer eu gweithgynhyrchu neu eu gosod. Mae’n rhaid i’r 2020au fod yn ddegawd o gyflawni ar gyfer sero-net, ac anogwn y Llywodraeth a llunwyr polisïau i gynnwys systemau hybrid mewn cymhellion a chynlluniau cymorth fel y Grant Gwres Glân, gan annog gosod systemau hybrid i helpu tuag at gyflawni’r targed o 600,000 o bympiau gwres y flwyddyn, ochr yn ochr â chymorth parhaus i ddatblygu hydrogen ar gyfer gwresogi.”

Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Cris Tomos, Aelod y Cabinet dros yr Amgylchedd, y Gymraeg a Diogelu’r Cyhoedd yng Nghyngor Sir Penfro:

“Mae’r Cyngor yn falch o arwain y prosiect Teyrnas Ynni Aberdaugleddau, sy’n rhoi Dyfrffordd Aberdaugleddau mewn sefyllfa flaenllaw ar gyfer cynhyrchu, dosbarthu a defnyddio hydrogen. Mae arddangoswyr gwresogi a chludo’r prosiect yn dangos yr hyn y gellir ei gyflawni trwy gydweithio â’n partneriaid, a gall Sir Benfro ddefnyddio’r arloesiadau hyn wrth i ni weithio tuag at fod yn awdurdod carbon sero-net erbyn 2030.” 

Mae’r prosiect Teyrnas Ynni Aberdaugleddau yn un o’r prosiectau dylunio manwl yn y rhaglen waith Ffynnu o’r Chwyldro Ynni a ariennir gan Ymchwil ac Arloesi’r DU yn rhan o’u Cronfa Her Strategaeth Ddiwydiannol. Mae’r prosiect wedi ceisio dylunio glasbrint ar gyfer systemau ynni lleol clyfar a bwerir gan ynni adnewyddadwy a hydrogen, ac yn fwy penodol sut i greu galw a gwneud dosbarthu a defnyddio hydrogen gwyrdd yn hyfyw yn ariannol o fewn adeiladau, diwydiant, pŵer a thrafnidiaeth.

Nodiadau i Olygyddion

Dywedodd Tom Veli, Cyfarwyddwr Prosiectau yn Passiv UK:

“Mae datrysiadau hyblyg fel system wresogi hybrid hydrogen glyfar Passiv UK yn cynnig y gallu i ddefnyddio trydan adnewyddadwy pan fydd yn rhad a phan fydd digon ohono ar gael, i wresogi gwead yr adeilad, ac yna defnyddio hydrogen fel tanwydd amgen yn ystod cyfnodau drutach pan fydd y galw am drydan ar ei fwyaf.”

“Bydd ymateb i ofynion cynhyrchu adnewyddadwy a’r rhwydwaith mewn amser real yn galluogi’r galw i ddod yn fwy ystwyth yn hytrach na sefydlog, gan greu arbedion carbon, arbedion i gwsmeriaid a chyfleoedd masnachol ar gyfer grid mwy deallus, wedi’i ddatganoli sy’n cael ei bweru’n llwyr gan ynni adnewyddadwy. Mae’r prosiect Teyrnas Ynni Aberdaugleddau yn enghraifft wych o hyn.”

Dywedodd Carl Arntzen, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Worcester Bosch:

“Y llynedd, dangoswyd ein boeler hydrogen prototeip mewn lleoliad domestig yn Gateshead, ond dyma’r tro cyntaf erioed i’r dechnoleg gael ei defnyddio’n fasnachol, y system hybrid hydrogen gyntaf, a’r tro cyntaf i foeler hydrogen gael ei ôl-osod mewn adeilad sydd eisoes yn bodoli. O fewn y system wresogi hybrid, gellir defnyddio’r hydrogen i gynyddu’r gwres yn ystod cyfnodau oer, a lleihau’r galw ar y system drydan yn ystod cyfnodau prysur, neu pan nad oes digon o ynni adnewyddadwy ar gael. Mae boeleri wedi llosgi nwy naturiol ers 50 mlynedd, felly mae newid i hydrogen, sef nwy sy’n rhydd rhag carbon, ar yr un pryd â pharhau i wresogi a darparu dŵr poeth yn yr un ffordd â boeler traddodiadol, yn wirioneddol ryfeddol.”

Dywedodd Mark Crowther, Cyfarwyddwr Technegol Kiwa UK:

“Rydym yn falch iawn o fod wedi bod yn rhan o’r prosiect hwn, wrth drefnu’r gwaith profi a pharatoi’r Achos Diogelwch. Mae hyn yn dangos ymhellach ddyfodol hydrogen ac yn adeiladu ar waith a wnaed yn rhan o raglen Hy4Heat BEIS a llawer o brosiectau hydrogen arbrofol eraill rydym ni wedi gweithio arnynt.”

Ychwanegodd Dr Stephen Wyatt, Cyfarwyddwr Ymchwil ac Arloesi Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, sef un o bartneriaid arweiniol y prosiect:

“Mae’r system hon, sef y gyntaf o’i bath yn y byd, nid yn unig yn garreg filltir bwysig i’r prosiect, ond, yn allweddol, mae’n rhoi enghraifft bendant o sut gallwn newid y ffynhonnell ynni trwy dechnolegau y gellir eu defnyddio’n rhwydd yn ein stoc adeiladau bresennol.

“Mae ORE Catapult yn arbennig o gyffrous ynglŷn â’r potensial i dechnolegau hydrogen arloesol ein galluogi i ddefnyddio trydan yn fwy hyblyg, wrth i ni ddarparu mwy o ynni gwynt ar y môr gwyrdd a fforddiadwy oddi ar arfordir Cymru a thu hwnt”.

 

Pennawd ar gyfer llun

Trosi’r system nwy bresennol i hydrogen.

 

Ar gyfer ymholiadau gan y wasg, anfonwch neges e-bost at: presspublicrelations@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Mae datganiadau i’r wasg y Cyngor ar gael ar wefan yr Awdurdod hefyd: http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk

 

 

[1] Hybrid Heating Great Britain Vision and Action Paper. Cyhoeddwyd gan Guidehouse ym mis Tachwedd 2021.