Centrica Promotes Hydrogen Storage to Cut UK Electricity Bills
Key Ideas
- Centrica believes hydrogen storage like the Rough facility in the North Sea can save UK households £35 annually by 2050.
- Hydrogen storage is seen as crucial for managing renewable power generation fluctuations and reducing energy costs in the UK.
- The company is seeking government support, including revenue guarantees, to convert its facility to store both methane and hydrogen.
- Hydrogen's role in decarbonizing heavy industry in Europe is under scrutiny due to infrastructure costs, but Centrica sees it as a key technology.
Centrica Plc, the owner of British Gas, has highlighted the potential of hydrogen storage in cutting UK electricity bills. The company believes that large-scale hydrogen storage facilities, like its Rough facility in the North Sea, could save UK households £35 per year by 2050, contributing to a total annual energy cost reduction of £1 billion. The push for hydrogen storage aligns with the UK's goal of reaching net zero targets and reducing dependence on natural gas. Centrica argues that hydrogen storage can help offset fluctuations in renewable power generation, which is becoming increasingly significant in the energy transition. However, the company emphasizes the need for a pricing model to proceed with a £2 billion redevelopment of its Rough facility to accommodate both methane and hydrogen. Centrica's CEO, Chris O'Shea, emphasizes the importance of being technology-agnostic and highlights hydrogen as a crucial element in managing energy intermittency. The company is actively seeking government backing, including revenue guarantees, to facilitate the conversion of its storage facility. While hydrogen's role in decarbonizing heavy industry in Europe faces challenges due to infrastructure costs, Centrica remains optimistic about the technology's potential in the UK. The report comes at a time when the UK regulator is set to announce changes that could affect energy bills. Centrica's advocacy for hydrogen as a storage solution reflects a positive outlook on the technology's role in the energy transition and cost reduction efforts in the UK.