Sunday, 23 October 2022

Not Exactly Peak Performance?

Some money from the tiny £8m Net Zero Technology Centre is being used by the HiiROC company to pilot a 49 MW Peaking Power Station in Brigg, Yorkshire (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/23/peak-power-hydrogen-injected-uk-station-centrica). Peaking Power Stations are only run for short periods of time, when demand for electricity is very high and/or the wind isn't blowing. This particular gas powered establishment is being converted, enabling hydrogen to be mixed with its normal fuel, natural gas. Initially, the plant will intially use 3% hydrogen but it's intended to eventually use 20%. This Peaking Power Station will still, however, burn mainly natural gas, producing carbon dioxide and other 'greenhouse gases'. Even the 'green' additive will be made by converting biomethane or natural gas into hydrogen and carbon black. This is termed 'blue' rather than 'green' hydrogen. 'Green' hydrogen is obtained by hydrolysis of water and can be burned with no climate-changing emissions. If this scheme is intended to take us to Net Zero, it's absolutely the wrong technology. HiiROC's technology essentially being advocated by big oil and gas. Perhaps they simply want to keep their hydrocarbon products viable for longer?

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