Overview

Currently, 80% of our homes are heated by natural gas central heating. Gas is very cheap and popular with consumers. Unfortunately, it is also a source of greenhouse gas emission when it is extracted, transported and combusted. It is not possible to continue to use fossil gas if the UK is going to meet its Climate Change Act commitments.

Currently, the preferred solution is to convert the UK to electric heating using highly efficient ground and air source heat pumps. This will require a significant expansion in low carbon power generation and electricity network infrastructure. In addition, homes will need to replace boilers, radiators and hot water tanks with electric systems. Many home will also need to significantly improve levels of insulation.

An alternative is to convert the gas network to hydrogen produced by reformation of natural gas combined with carbon capture and storage. This would require less disruption to people’s homes and could use the existing gas network. However, carbon savings are lower than electrification.

Another option is to produce low carbon natural gas through anaerobic digestion or gasification of waste and biomass. This produces a low carbon gas that can be mixed with fossil gas and used without consumers noticing any difference. However, supplies are limited by the availability of sufficient feedstock to produce the gas.

This talk will discuss the chemistry of decarbonising heat together with the technical and economic challenges of moving away from fossil gas.

Andy is the Commercial Director of Go Green Fuels, a company at the forefront of green natural gas production, and has more than 10 years’ experience of production of low carbon electricity and fuels.

Time

Refreshments and networking from 17:30, the presentation will start at 18:00. There will be an opportunity for more networking after the presentation.

Register

Non SONG members must register their attendance in advance by email to: song@ichememember.org.

Members not able to attend can join the live presentation over the web. Register for the event >> 

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