We are proud to announce the successful completion of City Science’s pivotal role in a groundbreaking project commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). From January to June 2022, our team was a key member of a consortium that explored the feasibility and impact of deploying 100MW Green Hydrogen Hubs across the UK.
Understanding Green Hydrogen Hubs
Green Hydrogen Hubs represent a cutting-edge approach to decarbonisation, producing hydrogen fuel through renewable energy sources. These hubs have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions across various sectors, including industry, transport, and heating.
Project Overview and Objectives
This innovative project leveraged digital twin technology to map the existing carbon footprint of Industrial Parks, providing a data-driven foundation for determining the most efficient decarbonisation strategies. The primary objectives included:
- Assessing the feasibility of 100MW Green Hydrogen Hubs in various UK locations
- Developing an outline design for Green Hydrogen Hubs focusing on reliability, cost-reduction, integration, and flexibility
- Creating a blueprint for efficient deployment to decarbonise industrial regions
- Evaluating the potential impact of these hubs on the UK’s overall carbon emissions
Local Authority CO2 Emissions
Building Energy Demand mapping
Our Approach
- Spatial Energy Mapping: We conducted comprehensive spatial mapping of energy use in the South West, categorising by fuel types. This allowed us to identify prime opportunities for substituting fossil fuels with hydrogen.
- Granular Analysis: Our team drilled down to building-level energy usage, pinpointing key anchor buildings for hydrogen application in both industrial and commercial settings.
- Sector-Specific Assessment – We reviewed hydrogen applications across various sectors, including road transport (freight, distribution, coach, bus, and car uses), aviation, heating (domestic and commercial), industrial processes, and energy storage.
- Scenario Planning – Demand for these sectors was assessed in line with energy demand scenarios set out by the National Grid and detailed local scenarios by Western Power Distribution (now part of National Grid).
- Impact Quantification – We quantified the potential impact of hydrogen adoption in each sector against current and projected carbon emissions, considering opportunity costs and the availability of alternative low-emission technologies.
- Smart City Energy Grid Simulation – Working closely with Exeter City Council, we created a multi-year plan to turn the city’s Net Zero aspirations into reality. This involved simulating and emulating various Smart City Energy Grid alternatives, providing a roadmap for councils, industry, and businesses across the UK to follow the most effective route to Net Zero.
Key Outcomes
Our comprehensive analysis yielded several crucial insights:
- Identified optimal locations for 100MW Green Hydrogen Hubs based on industrial park carbon footprints and energy demand patterns
- Developed a flexible and scalable design for Green Hydrogen Hubs that can be efficiently deployed across various industrial regions
- Quantified the potential carbon emission reductions achievable through widespread adoption of green hydrogen across multiple sectors
- Created a detailed roadmap for integrating green hydrogen into existing energy systems, considering both technical and economic factors
- Provided valuable data to support policy decisions and investment strategies for accelerating the UK’s transition to a hydrogen-based economy
Gas usage within the city and building allocations
This project represents a significant step forward in the UK’s journey towards net zero emissions. The insights and designs developed by City Science and our consortium partners lay the groundwork for a new era of clean energy infrastructure. As we move forward, the potential for green hydrogen to revolutionise our energy landscape becomes increasingly clear.
City Science is proud to have been at the forefront of this transformation, bringing our expertise in data analysis, energy systems, and sustainable urban planning to bear on one of the most pressing challenges of our time.