gas substitution roadmap

Hydrogen not the future for home heating


A evaluate of independent scientific studies on the use of hydrogen for heating has delivered a damning verdict for the idea that we may perhaps one working day exchange our present fuel network with a hydrogen community.

The proof evaluation, undertaken by electricity influencer Dr Jan Rosenow, looked at 32 unbiased studies. These were being done at intercontinental, regional, nationwide, condition, and city amount by universities, investigate institutes, intergovernmental organisations these as the IPCC and the Worldwide Electricity Company (IEA), and consulting companies. The evaluate excluded reports carried out by or on behalf of a precise business, mainly because the success may replicate vested interests.

Dr Rosenow notes that the overview was carried out against a backdrop of hydrogen hopefulness.

“Low-carbon and zero-carbon hydrogen has been promoted by fuel and heating market representatives as a crucial alternative to swap specifically fossil gasoline in the distribution grid,” he suggests. “It has obtained considerable media focus over the last two to 3 yrs and featured in some of the several national hydrogen techniques released just lately.”

Indeed, hydrogen seems in both Australia’s Very low Emissions Technologies Assertion 2021 and the Gas Substitution Roadmap launched by the Victorian government before this yr.

Dr Rosenow helps make an significant distinction among the unique takes advantage of of green hydrogen. He notes that there are quite a few reputable latest and prospective makes use of: as a feedstock in industry, for substantial-temperature processes, in shipping and delivery, and for long-phrase strength storage for electrical power creation.

When it will come to heating in properties, on the other hand, the review is unequivocal.

“The evidence assessment displays that the common use of hydrogen for heating is not supported by any of the 32 reports identified in this critique,” says Rosenow.

“Instead, present independent investigation so significantly suggests that, as opposed to other possibilities this kind of as warmth pumps, solar thermal, and district heating, hydrogen use for domestic heating is fewer economic, much less economical, a lot more source intense, and related with larger environmental impacts.”

The  evidence evaluate can be uncovered at ScienceDirect.

Picture by Rafael Classen at Pexels.



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Focus on efficiency and electrification in gas roadmap


The Victorian govt has unveiled its Gasoline Substitution Roadmap with the mentioned purpose of aiding the condition navigate the route to net-zero emissions even though providing better consumer choice and slicing electricity costs.

The governing administration is touting the strategy as Australia’s “first coordinated decarbonisation strategy for the gas sector”. And there are superior motives for Victoria to be a chief in this area.

Far more than 2 million Victorians use gas in their homes and companies – much more than any other point out or territory. The gasoline sector also contributes to all over 17 for each cent of the state’s internet greenhouse gasoline emissions. If Victoria is to meet up with its emissions reduction targets, it must deal with gasoline.

The roadmap prioritises the use of vitality efficiency and electrification – actions that had been highlighted by quite a few market teams when the roadmap was introduced for community session in 2021.

“Going a lot more electric powered not only normally takes the strain off gas need and limitations consumers’ exposure to intercontinental price ranges,” claims the governing administration, “running your dwelling on electrical power will help you save you dollars and cut down your carbon emissions.”

The roadmap estimates that an existing dual-gasoline property with solar panels that updates to productive, electric powered appliances can conserve $570 on heating and cooling and $180 on incredibly hot water.

In accordance to the examination, absolutely changing to an all-electric house can save $1,250 for every 12 months, in addition to the $950 preserving from the existing solar procedure. Incorporating a medium-sized battery is believed to save a even further $520 for every year, despite the fact that some stakeholders have criticised these illustrations for not setting up in up-front expenses.

The Victorian Power Upgrades software is anticipated to play a essential position in accomplishing larger vitality effectiveness and electrifying properties. And in just one of the headlines to emerge from the launch, Victoria’s arranging policies will be amended this calendar year so that gas connections will no longer be mandatory for new developments.

But hydrogen and biogas also attribute heavily in the plan – leaving some stakeholders scratching their heads about regardless of whether the federal government sees a potential for the residential use of what it is calling “renewable gas”.

Also of note for all those in the HVAC&R sector is a determination to retrain and reskill employees in changeover.

“Solar Victoria is supporting the upskilling of gasoline plumbers and electricians in heating, ventilation and cooling, energy performance and renewable fuel technologies, and supplying schooling for plumbers to set up energy-economical sizzling h2o programs which include warmth pumps,” claims the Roadmap.

“This is to be shipped in collaboration with business experts and instruction vendors these as the Plumbing Sector Weather Action Centre. This will be certain that Victoria has sufficient sector ability to set up reverse-cycle air conditioners for low earnings and vulnerable households via the Home Heating and Cooling Updates application.”

The Victorian authorities claims it will proceed to engage and collaborate with the neighborhood and industry throughout the gasoline sector’s transition to net-zero emissions, including a Roadmap update report in 2023.

To go through the Roadmap, click on listed here.



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