What is a Hydrogen Boiler?

News of the planned switch to hydrogen hit the headlines recently, as the UK announced its plans to transform the way homes and businesses are heated. Currently, we predominantly depend on gas-powered boilers, but over the coming years these systems are set to be phased out. Hydrogen boilers will start to take their place. 

If you’re concerned about the cost implications of the switch to hydrogen boilers, don’t be. This of course sounds like a huge change, but in reality it will be managed in a very gradual fashion. In all likelihood, it will take several decades for all homes to be fitted with hydrogen boilers. The switch from our current gas supply to hydrogen won’t happen until that point. 

If you’re thinking of investing in a new boiler soon, it’s a good idea to get up to speed on what a hydrogen boiler is, what it does and how it works. It’s expected that new, hydrogen-ready boilers will hit the market from 2023. They’ll be fully equipped with all the necessary technology to run on hydrogen when the time comes. 

We caught up with some of our expert engineers to find out more about hydrogen boilers. Here’s everything you need to know about the huge change that’s just around the corner. 

What is a hydrogen boiler? 

A hydrogen boiler is a boiler system that’s powered by hydrogen rather than gas. Instead of natural gases or methane, it burns hydrogen to heat water and keep homes warm. 

The new units that are planned for release in the next few years will be known as hydrogen-ready boilers. This means that they will offer the best of both worlds. 

Homeowners will initially be able to hydrogen-ready boilers to burn natural gas, just as a standard boiler would. But over time, they’ll be able to switch to being powered by 100% hydrogen. 

During the transition phase, hydrogen-ready units will be powered by a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen, providing homeowners with numerous benefits from cost-saving to sustainability improvements. 

Existing gas distribution networks cannot be switched over to hydrogen power before hydrogen-ready systems have been installed in homes and properties all over the country. So the introduction of these hybrid units is an important step in the phasing out of natural gas. 

What are the benefits of hydrogen boilers? 

Hydrogen boilers are being introduced because they offer some significant advantages over more traditional, gas-powered systems. 

The installation of a hydrogen-ready boiler will dramatically reduce your carbon footprint. They’re a far more eco-friendly option, something which consumers are increasingly concerned about as the threat of climate change increases. 

Homeowners are now choosing to install hydrogen-ready boilers as a key part of their individual efforts to live a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. 

Hydrogen boilers are far better for the environment because they do not produce carbon dioxide as a gas-powered boiler would. They can therefore reduce carbon emissions quite considerably, without any compromise in terms of functionality, reliability or cost. 

How much would it cost to install a hydrogen boiler? 

At the moment, hydrogen boilers are still in the prototype phase. But once they become more readily available, it is expected that installation costs of these units will be broadly similar to that of gas boilers. They do not require any changes to existing pipework and heating systems, so the installation itself isn’t likely to incur any hefty fees. 

Currently, the cost of running a 100% hydrogen boiler would be prohibitively expensive, because hydrogen is costly to produce. However, in the future our current gas network is to be replaced with hydrogen. When this happens, hydrogen will be far more readily available – and therefore much more affordable. 

If you’re interested in the environmental benefits of switching to hydrogen, we highly recommend investing in a hydrogen-ready unit as soon as you’re able to. These units will run using both hydrogen and gas, meaning you’ll be able to reduce your carbon footprint from day one, even if the gas network isn’t quite ready to make the switch to greener fuel yet. 

Find out more about eco-friendly boilers

While switching to a hydrogen boiler is a great move for the environment, it isn’t yet possible for many homeowners. However there are things you can do right now to reduce your carbon emissions, without switching off your heating and hot water.

If your property has an old boiler system, it may be worth looking into whether or not you’d benefit from an upgrade. Modern boilers are far more energy-efficient, so by installing a new unit you would be able to reduce your carbon footprint and make a significant saving in your energy bills too. And with the energy price cap expected to rise again in the coming months, there’s never been a better time to see what you can do to get those bills as low as possible. 

Talk to our team about boiler maintenance and installations 

If you’d like to find out more about our boiler repair and boiler maintenance services, don’t hesitate to give us a call. 

Our team of experienced engineers is always on hand to look into any problems you may be having, whether your unit is making an odd noise or it isn’t working at all. 

We provide full boiler installation services all over London, and we’re always happy to advise our customers on the best boilers for their requirements. So, if you’re wondering whether or not you’d benefit from a new boiler installation, or you’re unsure about whether your current system is well-suited to your property and your family’s requirements, give us a call. 

We can arrange for a qualified, gas-safe engineer to visit your home or business at a convenient time, to carry out any maintenance or servicing tasks you might need. And of course, if you’d like a new boiler installed, we can manage the whole process for you. Get in touch to find out more.