Hydrogen Ready Stopgap?
Hi everyone, I am looking to replace a central heating boiler in a property with a new one and considering the new future-proofed options may be viable.
I note that most central heating manufacturers are now supplying hydrogen-ready boilers to the market. The ongoing trials for these that are currently going ahead must be showing optimistic results for there to now be hydrogen options available.
If the government are not allowing gas boilers from 2035 is this just a stopgap on the road to unaffordable air heat source pumps etc being forced upon us at additional expense?
Simon
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Member Since July 2017 - Comments: 462
11:31 AM, 23rd December 2022, About 3 years ago
forget heat pumps – they are big, ugly and noisy. They cost a fortune to install and will never save any money when electricity costs around 4 times as much as gas. Of course it makes sense to go for a hydrogen ready model – why not.
Member Since February 2015 - Comments: 33
2:15 PM, 23rd December 2022, About 3 years ago
Reasonably modern gas central heating systems use smaller bore pipes which are unsuitable for hydrogen so you would have to have all the pipe work replaced and new radiators probably. Heat pumps are noisy, expensive to install and expensive to run
Member Since August 2016 - Comments: 1190
2:48 PM, 23rd December 2022, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by christine walker at 23/12/2022 – 14:15Why would the radiator pipes need replacing when all they’re carrying is hot water ? And why new radiators ?
Member Since February 2015 - Comments: 33
3:41 PM, 23rd December 2022, About 3 years ago
It’s because the high pressure generated by hydrogen needs bigger bore pipes I believe
Member Since January 2020 - Comments: 1102 - Articles: 1
4:22 PM, 23rd December 2022, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by christine walker at 23/12/2022 – 15:41
That would be the gas supply pipes rather than the pipes feeding the radiators.
Member Since February 2015 - Comments: 33
4:25 PM, 23rd December 2022, About 3 years ago
It is just what I have been told when I was in the same situation as you. Two plumbing firms have said the same.
Member Since November 2022 - Comments: 2
7:05 PM, 23rd December 2022, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by christine walker at 23/12/2022 – 16:25
Well, they are wrong. The water in the primary system will be exactly the same as now so you can keep your radiators and pipes. What may have to change is the gas supply pipe to your boiler. Hydrogen is less dense than natural gas and to carry the same calorific value, will probably have to be delivered at a higher pressure but that is the only difference.
Member Since January 2020 - Comments: 1102 - Articles: 1
11:23 PM, 23rd December 2022, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by christine walker at 23/12/2022 – 16:25
Are you sure that they were not talking about a heat pump installation, which would quite possibly necessitate larger pipes and radiators?