A UK-wide conversion from natural gas to hydrogen could reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the heat sector by 73%—making a contribution toward meeting the country's decarbonization goals, a new report says.

The H21 Leeds City Gate report—a collaboration among Northern Gas Networks, Wales & West Utilities, Kiwa Gastex and Amec Foster Wheeler—sets out how the gas grid in the city of Leeds could be converted to hydrogen. The conversion would then be rolled out across the country in stages.

: (L-R): Mark Lewis, Mark Crowther, Dan Sadler, Alastair Renee and Melanie Taylor at the launch of the H21 report in London. Image credit: Northern Gas Networks.Converting natural gas into hydrogen would take place via a process called steam methane reforming, which turns the gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. To achieve significant emissions reductions from this process, the report proposes using carbon capture and storage of the carbon dioxide from the conversion—with hydrogen remaining as a zero-carbon fuel that could be used for heating, transportation and electricity.

“A nationwide conversion to a hydrogen gas grid is technically possible, economically viable and will be a significant contributor to meeting the UK’s decarbonization targets," says Dan Sadler, H21 project manager at Northern Gas Networks.

According to the report, a hydrogen gas grid could use the underground gas pipes already installed in the UK. Household appliances could be converted to run on hydrogen with potentially less disruption and expense than converting to alternative energy sources, the report says.

Since 2002, the UK has been replacing its iron gas mains (that is, those pipes within 30 meters of buildings) with polyethylene pipes. The report says the new pipes are considered to be suitable for transporting 100% hydrogen.