Residents invited to learn more about Whitby Hydrogen Village programme

The partners behind a programme exploring the possibility of using hydrogen for heating in Whitby are inviting local residents to community information days at Wolverham Community Centre on 13 December 2022 and Ellesmere Port Civic Hall on 10 January 2023 to find out more.

Over the last six months, Cadent, the gas distribution network in the North West, British Gas and Cheshire West and Chester Council have been working with the local community to explore the suitability of converting Whitby to low-carbon hydrogen for heating and cooking.

The community information days will offer another opportunity for people living and working in the area to find out more and meet with representatives of Cadent and British Gas to ask questions.

Whitby is one of two locations being considered by the Government as the first in the UK to trial the use of hydrogen for heating and cooking in homes and businesses. Ofgem and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are expected to decide which location the full programme will go ahead in by mid-2023.

Marc Clarke, Head of Hydrogen Consumer at Cadent, said:

“Since we launched Whitby Hydrogen Village in May this year, we’ve spoken to many people who live and work in Whitby. It’s been fantastic to see the level of local interest in the Hydrogen Village programme and we are really grateful for all of the feedback we’ve had so far. It’s been vital in shaping our offer to the community.

“We know that residents and businesses will continue to have questions about the programme. The community information days we’re holding on 13 December 2022 and 10 January 2023 will provide another opportunity for people to find out about our proposals and ask questions.

“We’d encourage anyone who has questions about the programme to come along and meet the team.”

The events are taking place at the following dates and times:

13 December 2022 from 10.30am to 2pm and 3pm to 8pm at Wolverham Community Centre, Cheltenham Rd, Ellesmere Port CH65 5DS

10 January 2023 from 10.30am to 2pm and 3pm to 8pm at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall, Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0AZ

Further details are available from the Whitby Hydrogen Village website: 

www.hydrogenvillage.com

About the Hydrogen Village programme

That’s why the Government has announced a target for a village-sized gas grid to be converted to hydrogen by 2025.

There are two proposed locations for the Hydrogen Village programme: Whitby, or another neighbourhood, in the North East of England.

The programme in Whitby is being led by Cadent, the North West’s gas distribution network, working in partnership with British Gas and Cheshire West and Chester Council.

In Spring 2022, Cadent and British Gas wrote to every address in Whitby to confirm which properties are located within the proposed 'Village' boundary.

Cadent and British Gas have now started speaking in more detail with Whitby residents, landlords and businesses to answer questions, complete surveys and create a strong community programme.

As part of these surveys, every property in the proposed ‘Hydrogen Village’ area – around 2,000 homes in an area within Whitby – will receive a free in-home hydrogen assessment.

In 2023 energy regulator Ofgem – which is funding the Hydrogen Village programme – and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, will confirm which location the programme will go ahead in.

From 2025, instead of natural gas, hydrogen will be supplied to properties in the confirmed Hydrogen Village area for a period of around two years. At the end of the two year programme, the area will either continue to be supplied with hydrogen or revert to using natural gas.

Who is behind the Hydrogen Village programme?

The potential Hydrogen Village programme in Whitby, Ellesmere Port, will be led by the North West’s gas distribution network Cadent, which is responsible for managing the gas pipes and other infrastructure that currently deliver gas to people’s homes and businesses.

Cadent will be partnering with British Gas and Cheshire West & Chester Council. It will also be working with the Government, energy regulator Ofgem (which is funding the Hydrogen Village programme) and the Health & Safety Executive.