Centrica has successfully demonstrated the injection of hydrogen into a gas-fired peak power plant at Centrica’s Brigg Energy Park, North Lincolnshire.

The trial marks a UK first in using hydrogen to decarbonise peak power generation supplying power directly to the electricity grid. Centrica and HiiROC, supported by the Net Zero Technology Centre produced hydrogen on site which was then blended at a 3 per cent ratio for the purposes of a one-hour trial.

The trial shows that there is a viable route for using hydrogen to aid decarbonisation readiness obligations for peak generation as part of the UK’s journey to net-zero.

It is also a key milestone in HiiROC’s journey, demonstrating the effectiveness and affordability of HiiROC’s thermal plasma electrolysis process, which produces hydrogen without CO2 emissions, making it compliant with the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.

Martin Scargill, MD, Centrica Energy Storage said: “The success of this trial demonstrates the potential hydrogen has to reduce emissions and future proof flexible power generation such as our gas peaker plant at Brigg. As the UK looks to achieve its ambitious Clean Power 2030 targets, hydrogen has the potential to play a key whole system role in providing reliable, low carbon electricity to power UK homes and businesses when demand is at its highest.”

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