Green gas will deliver decarbonised heat to the UK
Green gases offer a cost effective way of meeting our 2050 carbon reduction targets, whilst keeping our hot water running and the heating on.
Script
Gas has kept the lights on and UK homes warm for the past 200 years.
Our world-leading gas infrastructure heats 85 per cent of homes and meets 50 per cent of the UK’s non-transport primary energy needs.
But natural gas accounts for 40 per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions – a reality that’s unsustainable.
The UK’s reliance on gas for heat, and the seasonal peaks and troughs in demand, mean gas cannot be easily replaced by electricity, however this is current Government strategy.
While demand for electricity also varies, the variation is nowhere near as great.
Building the additional electricity generating capacity needed to meet peak heat demand is simply unaffordable.
It would involve more than doubling the UK’s electricity network.
A switch to electricity from gas would also require homeowners to replace boilers, pipes and radiators with compatible systems, costing as much as £12,000 per household – a move that would be both unaffordable and disruptive for tens of millions of people.
But there is one “common sense” solution that would keep our homes warm and hot water running – whilst making use of our existing infrastructure.
Green Gas is actually a range of gases that have lower carbon dioxide emissions than natural gas.
Biomethane is captured from organic waste processing. Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) is a methane-based gas created artificially from black bag waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill, hence earning its green credentials.
Hydrogen, which can be produced from natural gas through Steam Methane Reforming – at which point the carbon needs to be captured – is the ultimate green gas: it emits no carbon when combusted.
Using the range of green gases we can offer a cost effective way of meeting our 2050 carbon reduction targets, whilst keeping our hot water running and the heating on.
Just imagine what we could achieve if we committed to green gas…
To find out more, visit eua.org.uk
-01.png){kind=spacer}