A UK-first trial at Keele University to blend hydrogen into the gas network in a bid to reduce carbon emissions has now been completed successfully.

HyDeploy at Keele began in October 2019 and was the first trial of its kind in the country which saw hydrogen blended with the campus’ closed gas network at up to 20% by volume.

The system became fully operational in January 2020, and has safely supplied the blended gas to 100 homes and 30 university buildings on campus over the past year.

During the trial, campus users of the gas supply have used the hydrogen blended gas safely in their homes and without the need to make any changes to their existing appliances, and reported positive results from their experience.

Engineers are now carrying out work within the compound on campus to formally revert the gas supply back to natural gas, with the findings from the project set to be published in a full report later this year.

Professor Mark Ormerod, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Institutional Lead for Sustainability said: “We’re delighted to have been a partner in the landmark HyDeploy project and to have been able to use the Keele University campus for the first UK trial to blend hydrogen into the existing natural gas network. Blending hydrogen offers the potential of very significantly carbon emission associated with domestic and business gas use as part of the UK’s ambitions to become Net Zero.

“The project has been a perfect fit for Keele University’s sustainability ambitions as an institution, and to use our campus as a genuine living laboratory for low carbon and sustainable energy technologies.”

Sikander Mahmood, Cadent Project Manager, added: “On behalf of all the HyDeploy partners I would like to thank the customers at Keele University for their willingness to take part in this trial. Blending hydrogen into the natural gas network is a critical stepping stone in helping the UK reach Net Zero by 2050.”

Keele's participation in this landmark trial reinforces the University's commitment to embedding sustainability across our campus, and is a key component of our Institute for Sustainable Futures' response to the challenge of providing clean energy and reducing carbon emissions.