HYD0099
Written evidence submitted by NEL
Dear Chair,
I am writing the following submission for the consideration of the committee as part of its deliberations on hydrogen and the role it could play as we transition as a nation towards a greener economy. We are appreciative of the opportunity to do so and will focus this short contribution on why establishing a clean fuels metrology centre is a fundamental perquisite for any future economy presupposed on hydrogen to be successful.
The need to act on climate change is well documented and the UK is now legislatively committed to achieving a ‘net-zero’ goal by 2050. At the same time, maintaining energy security for the UK is more important than ever, whilst growing the UK economy in a sustainable way that keeps people out of fuel poverty is crucial. There is no single, ‘magic-bullet’ solution to this energy trilemma, but the concept of a hydrogen economy offers a significant contribution towards solving it.
At present, the gas, electricity and transport fuel parts of the energy system have few, if any, touch points. Hydrogen offers the unique potential to integrate the whole energy system, serving as an end-use fuel, as well as an energy transport and storage medium; all in a fully decarbonised way. However, to realise this fully decarbonised vision, all of the hydrogen produced will need to be blue (produced from fossil fuels coupled with carbon capture and storage) or green (produced from electrolysis of water using renewable electricity). Equally hydrogen maybe in turn converted to species such as ammonia or liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) that have higher volumetric energy densities.
A notable observation then, is that aside from electricity, all of the other parts of a future decarbonised energy system (hydrogen, carbon dioxide, ammonia, LOHC) are liquids or gases, hence every fiscal and financial transaction that takes place with them will be entirely reliant upon an accurate, traceable flow measurement. Furthermore, in order to manage this complex, integrated energy system, and to provide meaningful environment accountability and auditing, will also be entirely reliant upon accurate, traceable flow measurement.
Finally, the UK is blessed with abundant renewable energy potential, and there is great scope to produce green hydrogen in such quantities that not only is domestic energy security secured at an affordable cost to consumers, but a healthy export market can be developed, with countries such as Germany already declaring they see themselves as net-importers of vast quantities of hydrogen; and again, for international trade accurate, traceable flow measurement with be required.
A hydrogen economy has great potential to provide a partial, but significant technological solution to the energy trilemma, but operation of such an energy system will be highly reliant upon flow measurement. In order to track progress against net-zero goals and provide meaningful carbon accounting for environmental auditing will also be equally reliant upon accurate, traceable flow measurement. For these reasons, NEL, as the UK’s Designated Institute for Flow and Density as part of the UK’s National Measurement System, is working to establish a Clean Fuels Metrology Centre to provide the metrological tools necessary for the UK, and a funding request is accordingly lodged with BEIS and is under consideration. If you want hydrogen to work…indeed, if you want almost any transition to a green economy to work it is vital this particular innovative technological solution is in place.