A successful 2% green hydrogen gas mixing trial has been successfully completed at the Briggs power station in North Lincolnshire. This is said to be the first occasion in which a green hydrogen and natural gas blend have been transported through infrastructure to power electrical generation in the UK. The trial was carried out by Centrica and British Gas to demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen gas blends into existing UK infrastructure.

Across Europe several other separate hydrogen trials involving gas blending are on-going. Countries such as The Netherlands, Germany and Portugal are all in the process of using hydrogen in household appliances, experimenting with hydrogen gas blending in existing infrastructure or adapting existing infrastructure to transport 100% hydrogen in the near future.

Further details on of each trial has been released in a report by the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance in April 2025 titled: “Hydrogen-readiness of gaseous fuels distribution infrastructure and heating technologies in Europe.”

The European Clean Hydrogen Alliance was started in 2020 by the European Commission and is a collective organisation of over 1,700 members – all of whom are involved in the hydrogen market value chain including governments, private and public investors, research institutions and commercial enterprises.

The European Clean Hydrogen Alliance states its aims as to promote financial investment into hydrogen as well as stimulate hydrogen production and use within the scope of climate friendly boundaries. To achieve these goals the organisation has divided itself into three separate groups of focus:

• hydrogen production
• hydrogen transmission, distribution, and storage
• hydrogen end-use

The first trial refers to “Hydrogen City,” a project that is located in Stad aan ‘t Haringvliet, situated on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee in The Netherlands. The local community has voted to stop using natural gas as a primary fuel and will instead use locally sourced green hydrogen.

In between 2025 and by the latest 2030 all existing gas infrastructure will be repurposed to transport hydrogen into every domestic and commercial property within the municipality.

Portugal’s leading gas operator Floene has begun a 12% green hydrogen natural gas blend project in Seixal, a city near Lisbon. Newly constructed infrastructure will carry green hydrogen to the local transmission network where a blended mix of green hydrogen and natural gas will be fed to 80 residential, commercial and industrial end users.

By 2030 the Portuguese government is aiming to provide a 15% green hydrogen natural gas mix in all domestic supplies.

A German project – H2Direkt is led by energy providers Energie Sudbayern, Energienetze Bayern and utility consultants Thuga. 10 private households and 1 commercial customer have been receiving 100% hydrogen since 2023 in the Bavaria region.

The original test schedule finish date has been recently extended and will go beyond the current year. Initial results of the test indicate that even when exposed to temperatures of -15°C the entire hydrogen infrastructure and the hydrogen heating systems were reliable.

Hydrogen has been identified as a potential gaseous component of the global energy transition. As demonstrated by the four UK and European examples of hydrogen blending and 100% hydrogen usage in this article, progress is being made in highlighting the potential operational value of hydrogen introduction.

Rinnai will continue to update all UK customers with information pertaining to multiple energy platforms that could affect customer energy and appliance options. Rinnai regularly reviews all international news relating to energy policy, investment and technological ingenuity.

Follow the free Rinnai newsletter for the latest news of polices and regulations
https://www.rinnai-uk.co.uk/contact-us/newsletter-sign

RINNAI OFFERS CLEAR PATHWAYS TO LOWER CARBON AND DECARBONISATION PLUS CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY  

www.rinnai-uk.co.uk/about us/H3

• Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of hot water heating units in gas/BioLPG/DME, hydrogen ready units, electric instantaneous hot water heaters, electric storage cylinders and buffer vessels, a comprehensive range of heat pumps, solar, hydrogen-ready or natural gas in any configuration of hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H1/2/3 range of products and systems offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable low carbon/decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions.
• Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.
• Rinnai products are UKCA certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours.
• Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question.
• Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s.
• The Rinnai range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, DME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

RINNAI FULL PRODUCT AVAILABILITY 24/7 FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY of ALL HOT WATER HEATING UNIT MODELS INCLUDING 48-58kW UNITS-

SAVINGS OF

20%                     REDUCTION of opex cost,

30%                     REDUCTION of initial cost

15%                   REDUCTION in carbon

75%                   REDUCTION of space

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit

www.rinnai-uk.co.uk