The UK hydrogen boiler market get ignition

Hydrogen Technologies (HTI), a subsidiary of Jericho Energy Ventures and UK-based UnitBirwelco (engineering, procurement, and construction management company), agreed in principles to cooperate on the engineering support, procurement, production, and fabrication aspects of cleanH2steam DCC™ boiler.

Cy Wilkinson, CEO of UnitBirwelco, stated, “UnitBirwelco’s experience in boilers, heat exchangers and thermal equipment fits perfectly with this project.”

Brian Williamson, CEO of Jericho, said, “UnitBirwelco’s long-standing and respected expertise in manufacturing thermal equipment gave us great comfort in selecting them to produce our initial cleanH2steam DCC boilers.”

Jericho also signed an exclusive IP licensing agreement with UK-based Deuterium Heating Ltd early this month. The agreement aimed to commercialise HTI’s unique hydrogen boiler technology further and to expand the geographical footprint across Europe. Jericho also changed its name from Jericho Oil Corporation in early March to better reflect its business direction towards clean energy after acquiring California-based HTI in early 2021.

Meanwhile, the two major hydrogen ready boilers companies in the UK, Worcester Bosch and Baxi Heating will showcase hydrogen boilers in the UK’s first 100% Hydrogen Home public demonstration.

The demonstration project is the first step towards the application of hydrogen boiler technology. The properties are being developed in partnership with Northern Gas Networks, the Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Cadent near Gateshead.  By the end of March, the houses will be ready with hydrogen boilers, cookers, and hobs installed by partners working with BEIS on the Hy4Heat project.

Baxi and Worcester Bosch have also been involved in ‘HyStreet’ at Spadeadam in Cumbria, where hydrogen boilers were installed in specially built demonstration houses for testing and research purposes.

Baxi Heating has recently called on the UK government to mandate hydrogen-ready boilers for all new gas boiler installations by 2025 and requested to invest £ 1 billion (US$ 1.4 billion) in preparing the UK for hydrogen production, distribution and storage at scale.

Meanwhile, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) also collaborating with Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) to decarbonise heat and power at Kirkwall Airport through green hydrogen technology. 2G Energy is selected for the project, which would deliver a CHP plant to generate heat and electricity of 100% hydrogen, a first of its kind in the UK. The hydrogen-ready CHP system will be integrated with the airport’s existing heating system to satisfy the buildings’ heating and power needs. The project is supported by the Scottish Government.

Mark Holtmann, 2G UK Managing Director,  said, “Even though there are already 2G CHPs operating on 100% hydrogen around the world, we look forward to a strong and successful partnership with Doosan Babcock to deliver the first 2G 100% hydrogen CHP solution in the UK using our ‘agenitor’ range.”