The pilot scheme in Redcar that was to test domestic use of hydrogen will now not go ahead.

Redcar is the latest trial to hit the buffers, following the cancellation of the Ellesmere Port project in July, which was abandoned due to concerns over safety. This time, Northern Gas Networks (NGN) that was running the scheme cited a lack of adequate low carbon hydrogen to supply the Redcar Hydrogen Community.

NGN said the news was “disappointing to the residents and businesses who expressed their support for the trial, as well as the wider community who were set to benefit from the investment and jobs that the project would bring”.

The Government will now continue to explore hydrogen for heat through a project in Fife, where around 300 homes are due to start using hydrogen.

At the same time the Government has announced that hydrogen can be blended into the gas system, which follows the successful demonstration of a 20 per cent hydrogen blend near Gateshead also run by NGN.

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