Hydrogen for heating trials: a global review
Hydrogen for heating has received a lot of attention and has been subject to fierce debate. It has been promoted by the gas industry as a plug-and-play alternative to fossil fuels. However, there are now more than 50 independent studies that indicate little scientific support for its large-scale use in heating. My meta-review concludes that hydrogen leads to higher energy system and consumer costs compared to other solutions. Instead, electrification using heat pumps and district heating systems is favored due to their superior efficiency and cost-effectiveness in most scenarios analyzed.
Despite the evidence, various trials are underway in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Canada, and Japan to explore the feasibility of hydrogen for residential heating. This article provides an overview of these projects. Most are small-scale and experimental, with limited practical experience to date. Many trials rely on dedicated hydrogen networks rather than testing the suitability of the existing gas distribution grid for hydrogen use. Additionally, some trials have faced public resistance, leading to cancellations.
The only large-scale experience with hydrogen for heating has been in Japan, where fuel cells rather than boilers have been tested extensively. This distinction highlights the limited global progress in demonstrating hydrogen’s viability as a direct heating solution.
Below the main hydrogen for heating trials identified globally are described in more detail. This article is based on a forthcoming book chapter I wrote. I invite additions and corrections in the comments as the publicly available information on the trials is not necessarily up to date or comprehensive.
Germany: Hohenwart
Germany’s hydrogen heating trial in Hohenwart is centered around a small-scale deployment involving roughly ten residential homes and one community charity building. The initiative aims to explore the potential of substituting natural gas with hydrogen for heating purposes, using modified pipelines tailored to accommodate hydrogen’s distinct chemical properties.
The project’s primary objectives are to evaluate the technical feasibility and safety implications of using hydrogen in residential heating systems. Key areas of focus include testing the adaptability of existing infrastructure, such as pipelines and household appliances, to hydrogen without requiring significant modifications. This entails analysis of how well these systems withstand the unique properties of hydrogen, such as its smaller molecular size and higher flammability compared to natural gas.
Another essential component of the trial is to gather insights into the user experience. Researchers aim to understand how residents adapt to hydrogen-powered heating systems, considering aspects like heating efficiency, convenience, and overall satisfaction.
Netherlands: Trials in Rozenburg, Lochem, Stad aan ’t Haringvliet, and Hoogeveen
Rozenburg
The Rozenburg trial, led by Stedin, supplies 100% green hydrogen to a small residential block for heating and hot water. This initiative is part of the broader Power2Gas program, which explores hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels.
The trial seeks to gather real-world data on hydrogen’s reliability and feasibility, particularly during peak demand in colder months. However, it underscores hydrogen’s lower energy efficiency and the logistical challenges of scaling up its use in heating.
Lochem
In Lochem, hydrogen boilers are being tested in 12 heritage homes that are subject to strict regulations preventing extensive retrofitting. Led by BDR Thermea and Alliander, this three-year project explores the performance of hydrogen boilers in real-world conditions. The hydrogen is produced in a nearby industrial zone and delivered through modified pipelines.
While the trial provides insights into heating solutions for heritage properties, its niche focus limits its relevance to the broader housing stock.
Stad aan ’t Haringvliet
In Stad aan ’t Haringvliet, an existing natural gas network is supposed to be converted to transport hydrogen for residential heating. The trial currently uses a hydrogen storage container since no centralised hydrogen network is yet available. The trial aimed to transition the entire village to hydrogen, contingent on 70% of residents agreeing. However, the project proved financially unsustainable and is scheduled to end in 2025, with homes returning to fossil gas for the winter of 2025–26.
Hoogeveen
The Hoogeveen trial involves creating a hydrogen-powered neighborhood, supplying up to 18 existing homes and 100 new homes with hydrogen heating. The project has faced delays but aims to explore the technical and social aspects of hydrogen heating.
UK: Cancelled and Ongoing Trials
Whitby and Redcar
A proposed hydrogen heating trial in Whitby, a village in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, was designed to test the viability of hydrogen as a heating fuel for approximately 2,000 homes. Spearheaded by Cadent Gas and British Gas, the initiative aimed to replace natural gas boilers with hydrogen-compatible models and supply hydrogen through modified pipelines over two years. This “Hydrogen Village” trial was part of the UK government’s strategy to decarbonize residential heating as part of its broader net-zero goals.
Despite its ambitions, the trial faced considerable backlash from local residents. Concerns were raised about the safety of hydrogen, its environmental impacts, and its cost-effectiveness compared to alternatives like heat pumps and broader electrification efforts. Many community members at public meetings voiced their opposition, deeming the project unnecessary and advocating for more established and cost-efficient green technologies. The pushback prompted the UK government to cancel the trial in July 2023, highlighting the critical need for community engagement and support in advancing clean energy initiatives.
Another proposed hydrogen heating trial was supposed to start in Redcar, which was also part of the UK’s broader “Hydrogen Village” initiative. Jointly led by Northern Gas Networks and Cadent, the project planned to replace natural gas with hydrogen in hundreds of homes, evaluating its performance as a cleaner alternative for heating. The trial sought to explore both technical and practical implications, including infrastructure adjustments and user experiences.
However, the initiative encountered significant resistance from local residents and experts. Concerns centered around safety risks, environmental challenges, and the high energy demands and costs associated with hydrogen heating. Critics also questioned the reliance on blue hydrogen, which involves natural gas and carbon capture, potentially undermining the project’s green credentials.
In December 2023, the UK government decided to also cancel the Redcar trial, citing insufficient supplies of low-carbon hydrogen to sustain the project.
Fife
The H100 Fife Project in Scotland aims to test the use of 100% green hydrogen for residential heating. Led by SGN, the trial will provide hydrogen, produced via electrolysis powered by offshore wind, to around 300 homes in Levenmouth, Fife. Participants will receive hydrogen-compatible boilers and heating systems free of charge to replace their natural gas systems.
The trial’s goals include evaluating the safety, efficiency, and practicality of hydrogen as a residential heating fuel. Data will be collected on user experiences, technical challenges, and operational barriers. Unlike other UK hydrogen trials in Whitby and Redcar, the Fife project will use a purpose-built hydrogen network rather than adapting existing gas infrastructure. As a result, it will not address the feasibility of using current gas pipelines for hydrogen distribution.
Initially scheduled to start in 2024, the project has been delayed until 2025 due to supply chain and procurement challenges. It remains a key component of the UK’s efforts to explore hydrogen’s role in decarbonizing home heating.
Milford Haven
The hydrogen heating trial in Milford Haven, Wales is a project exploring hybrid heating systems that combine hydrogen with other renewable energy sources. Located in Pembrokeshire, this trial uses a hybrid system that includes a hydrogen-ready gas boiler paired with an air-source heat pump. The goal is to demonstrate how these systems can flexibly switch between renewable electricity and green hydrogen to meet heating needs, minimizing carbon emissions while utilizing local renewable energy sources. The trial also integrates controls to optimize the energy used based on available renewable electricity, offering insights into efficient, low-carbon heating for both homes and businesses.
Japan: Ene-Farm Fuel Cells
Japan’s “Ene-Farm” initiative is a significant part of the country’s push toward hydrogen-powered homes and buildings. It focuses on the deployment of residential hydrogen fuel cells that generate both electricity and heat from hydrogen. These systems, installed in homes, use hydrogen as a fuel to generate power via a fuel cell, and the byproduct is thermal energy, which can be used for heating and hot water. However, the hydrogen is currently derived from fossil gas with no carbon abatement.
The Ene-Farm program began in the mid-2000s as a collaboration between the Japanese government, utility companies, and manufacturers like Panasonic and Toshiba. Over the years, it has seen significant growth, with the aim to expand its reach across the residential sector. By 2020, there were more than 300,000 homes equipped with Ene-Farm systems.
Ene-Farm is seen as an essential step in Japan’s transition towards a “hydrogen society”. The Japanese government continues to support the technology’s expansion, with plans to integrate it further into both residential and commercial sectors.
South Korea
South Korea is advancing hydrogen-based urban initiatives in several cities as part of the Hydrogen Pilot City Development Project. Namyangju, near Seoul, plans to establish itself as a self-sufficient hydrogen-powered city by installing fuel cells in public housing, offices, and cultural facilities. In Gwangyang, hydrogen is supposed to be integrated into apartment complexes, swimming pools, and public transport. Pohang is supposed to adopt fuel cells for public housing.
The With You Apartment complex in Buk-gu, Ulsan, represents the world’s first residential development powered entirely by by-product hydrogen sourced from nearby industrial complexes.
This initiative involves using hydrogen by-products from local industries, such as oil refineries and petrochemical plants, which are transported through pipelines to a cogeneration plant near the complex. The plant generates 1.32 MW of electricity per hour via hydrogen fuel cells, while also producing heat. The electricity is currently sold to Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) due to regulatory requirements, but the heat byproduct is directly utilised for hot water and space heating in the 437 apartment units.
It is unclear whether the hydrogen was produced using fossil gas with carbon capture or without it. As a result, the carbon footprint of utilizing these hydrogen molecules remains uncertain when compared to the direct use of natural gas from the city grid.
Canada: Bremner Hydrogen Community
Canada’s hydrogen community initiatives are part of the nation’s broader push for clean energy and emission reductions. A standout project is the Bremner Hydrogen Community near Edmonton, Alberta, led by ATCO Gas and Qualico. This innovative neighborhood is designed as a model for hydrogen-powered residential living and has the capacity to eventually accommodate up to 85,000 residents.
In its initial phase, the project will construct 150 homes, each equipped to use hydrogen as a primary energy source. Construction is set to begin in 2024, with the first residents expected to move in by late 2025. The project aims to test the practicality and scalability of hydrogen-powered infrastructure in a real-world setting. Alberta Innovates and other stakeholders are funding the initiative, which is being closely monitored to inform future investment decisions following a two-year study. Michael Barnard’s analysis highlights concerns and suggests residents could end up paying 4–10x more for their heating if the project is realised.
Where do we go from here?
Proven heating technologies like heat pumps and district heating networks already dominate the buildings sector, offering significant advantages in efficiency and cost. Independent analyses underscore that prioritizing the adoption of these technologies can accelerate decarbonization efforts. For instance, around 200 million buildings globally use heat pumps, while Europe alone has 70 million buildings connected to district heating networks, with millions more in China. Policymakers should focus primarily on scaling these solutions rather than diverting substantial resources to hydrogen heating, which risks delays in achieving decarbonization targets.
That said, hydrogen heating trials can play a valuable role in evaluating its feasibility, costs, and safety. These trials provide policymakers with practical data to define hydrogen’s niche applications without committing to extensive deployment. Hydrogen may still have limited roles in certain industrial or hard-to-electrify heating systems. However, scaling proven solutions like heat pumps and district heating will most likely remain the primary strategy to meet emissions reduction goals efficiently. This balanced approach allows for innovation while avoiding prolonged delays in the buildings sector’s transition to low-carbon heating solutions.
