In what was heralded as a groundbreaking move towards a greener future, almost 300 residents in Buckhaven and Methil, Fife, volunteered for a four-year pilot project to heat their homes using hydrogen.
However, recent revelations suggest that energy bosses deliberately suppressed critical safety information, sparking concerns over the true risks associated with the world-first hydrogen trial.
SGN’s £32 million project, known as H100, aims to deliver green hydrogen to homes, providing crucial data to the UK Government for future fuel decisions. Participants were promised free hydrogen-ready boilers, cooking appliances, and a £1,000 compensation for any disruptions. SGN believes green hydrogen, viewed as more environmentally friendly than natural gas, could be a nationwide reality within 12 years.
The controversy stems from independent tests commissioned by SGN in 2018. These tests, initially kept under wraps, revealed that hydrogen poses a higher explosion risk than natural gas. The results were not disclosed to the participants, raising questions about transparency and informed decision-making.
A controlled explosion video, released recently, demonstrated that a hydrogen explosion causes more damage than methane, the standard household gas, and carries a greater risk of severe injury. SGN insists that additional safety measures will be in place to ensure hydrogen usage is as safe as natural gas.
