Hydrogen best option for UK power flexibility – Aurora

Hydrogen-fired peaking power plants cheaper than storage and abated gas-fired plants in 2035, research company says

Hydrogen-fired power plants could be a cheaper way to provide low-carbon flexibility for the UK than using either short-duration energy storage or new gas-fired peaking plants fitted with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, according to modelling by consultancy Aurora Energy Research. Replacing gas-fired peaking plants, the current source of flexibility on the system, with hydrogen-fired facilities could save up to £90bn ($103bn) of capex compared with relying on short-duration storage, as the UK looks to meet a government target of decarbonising the electricity system by 2035, Aurora says. It puts the cost of replacing gas-fired peaking plants with hydrogen-fired plants by 2035 at