Energy companies Centrica and National Gas have completed the UK’s first live hydrogen blending trial, marking a milestone in the country’s push to decarbonise its energy system. A 2% blend of green hydrogen was injected into the national gas grid and supplied to the Brigg power station in North Lincolnshire, where it was used to generate electricity for the power network.
Previous hydrogen blending tests in the UK had been limited to decommissioned gas network sections, making this the first instance of hydrogen being used in an operational setting. The trial demonstrated that existing infrastructure can accommodate low-level hydrogen blends without compromising grid reliability or safety.
The initiative supports wider efforts to integrate hydrogen into the national energy mix, reducing emissions from power generation and hard-to-abate industrial sectors. Green hydrogen, produced from renewable electricity through electrolysis, is viewed as a key pathway to achieving net-zero targets.
Centrica and National Gas are now advocating for regulatory approval to allow up to 5% hydrogen blends in the national transmission system. The companies said the move would encourage private investment, strengthen energy security, and create new opportunities for the UK’s industrial regions.
