UK gas networks unveil plan for East Coast Hydrogen

Industrial clusters will drive initial demand for hydrogen, with wider switching from natural gas likely to take place from late 2020s

Hydrogen production from the East Coast Cluster can start to be connected to other parts of the country after 2028, according to a feasibility report for East Coast Hydrogen, a proposed hydrogen gas network for the north of England. Following the announcement of the East Coast Cluster and Hynet as ‘track one’ carbon capture and storage (CCS) clusters to be established by the mid-2020s, East Coast Hydrogen aims to connect hydrogen supply from these clusters with other supply points—such as the East Midlands Hydrogen Innovation Zone—and distribute the gas across the north of the country. The network—a collaboration between UK gas distributors Northern Gas Networks, Cadent and National Grid—wil