GAS INDUSTRY’S TRANSITION PATHWAY
PHOENIX NATURAL GAS EXPLAINS THE GAS NETWORKS’ ROLES IN THE TRANSITION TO BIOMETHANE AND GREEN HYDROGEN ON THE PATHWAY TO NET ZERO IN NI, AND WHAT THE SWITCHOVER MEANS FOR CONSUMERS… A smooth transition Iain Hoy, Energy Transition Manager, Phoenix.
O ne of the most modern in since it was launched 25 years ago. However, on the pathway to becoming Net-Zero by 2050, the time has come to transition away from the distribution of natural gas to renewable gases like green hydrogen and biomethane. To inform the population and reassure them at every step during the transition, Phoenix Natural Gas and the other NI Gas Network Operators – firmus energy, GNI Europe, Northern Ireland’s gas network has expanded rapidly (UK), Mutual Energy and SGN Natural Gas – have developed a Pathway to Net-Zero document which details the switchover. BOILER-READY According to Phoenix, the good news is that the region’s gas network is suitable for an affordable and non- disruptive transition. “The pipe network in Northern Ireland is relatively new, with plastic pipes, which are suitable for
the distribution of both biomethane and hydrogen,” explained Iain Hoy, Energy Transition Manager at Phoenix Natural Gas. “A 100% green hydrogen supply is still a little way off, but our gas network is a lot more suitable to hydrogen in comparison to networks in Great Britain that are using legacy iron pipes. It is a great opportunity.” With a switch to biomethane, there will be no need for consumers to buy new boilers. “If the consumer joins a biomethane supply, they don’t have to worry about changing anything. It is only a matter of changing the gas,” Iain commented. According to Iain, it is possible to introduce green hydrogen as up to 20% of the supply of existing natural gas or biomethane, as the boilers will function normally, which is still a huge win for the environment. However, if the proportion goes above 20%, it will be necessary to switch to a 100% green hydrogen network. “The predicted timeline for a consumer to switch to 100% green
hydrogen is uncertain but due to the fantastic innovative work by the leading boiler manufacturers, by the middle of this decade, 100% hydrogen-ready boilers and appliances will become standard, meaning any appliance installed will be 100% compatible and ready to go.” NATURAL CYCLE The switchover won’t happen overnight. The timeline proposed by Phoenix and the other gas distributors predicts a gradual increase of biomethane and hydrogen in the gas network over the next 20 years. “Transitioning to a 100% renewable gas network involves long lead in times and we have been very transparent about that, but we are confident we will be net-zero by 2050,” Iain said. It is still early to talk about grants to consumers who wish to avail of the new technologies, but the future hydrogen- ready boilers are predicted not to be much more expensive than existing boilers and they are expected to be competitive
“Successfully completing the energy transition by 2050 will require the utilisation of a range of low-carbon heating solutions.”
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