It is a proposal from Northern Gas Networks for some areas of Redcar and Kirkleatham to use hydrogen instead of natural gas for cooking and heating.

Northern Gas Networks is the local gas distributor, responsible for delivering gas to homes and businesses in Redcar. As part of this project Northern Gas Networks would supply hydrogen through the gas pipes instead of the natural gas which is supplied to customers today. 

As part of the Government’s commitment to tackle climate change, it has set a target to meet net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This means we need to move away from using natural gas as it creates carbon and is responsible for up to a third of the UK’s carbon emissions.  Hydrogen doesn’t create carbon when it is burned so it can be compatible with future targets.   

The switchover of the gas network to 100% hydrogen would be in 2025 and we will find out in 2023 whether the project will go ahead.

At the moment, we are completing work to submit to our regulator, Ofgem and the Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in support of Redcar hosting the hydrogen pilot. This work includes liaising with those businesses and homes in the area who would be supplied with hydrogen.  

Northern Gas Network selected Redcar because there are already commitments to produce hydrogen in the area and it makes sense for the communities located closest to the production to be the first to use it.

The government has highlighted that the hydrogen could create as many as 12,000 jobs so the hydrogen economy represents a great opportunity for Redcar and the local area