As we move toward a decarbonised energy system, we are increasingly connecting a greater number of renewable energy sources to the national grid. The majority of the UK’s renewable electricity is produced in the North despite the South consuming greater quantities of energy. However, at peak production times, the southward transmission of power can exceed the thermal capacity of the grid, leading the National Grid Electricity System Operator to pay to constrain renewable generation and supplement energy demand with predominantly fossil fuel generation.
Hydrogen production facilities could reduce regional thermal constraints by utilising electricity from renewables that would otherwise need to be constrained. The low carbon hydrogen generated can then be used as an alternative to fossil fuels in industry, heating or transport to help decarbonise the UK economy.
National Grid Electricity System Operator and National Gas Transmission, as part of their Network Innovation Allowance funding, commissioned Arup to explore the technical, commercial, and economic case for electrolytic hydrogen production facilities to help manage thermal constraints on the electricity transmission system.
