In the first experiment of its sort in Europe, a Dutch university has succeeded in using hydrogen to fulfill all of an apartment building’s heating and water heating demands.

The Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands is presently in charge of the apartment complex, which has been renovated to provide a heating system based on a hydrogen heater located on the roof.

The university collaborated with the Social Housing Organization (WingCorporates) to link a housing building on campus to an underground hydrogen network to satisfy its heating and water heating demands.

The project is the first of its type on the European continent, combining an underground hydrogen network that functions similarly to a natural gas network, as well as hydrogen pipes that run throughout the building and are connected to a hydrogen heater.

The initiative is called “H2@Home” by the university, and it has been operational since November. It will be tested through July 2022.

Hydrogen has a lower energy density than natural gas, according to the researchers, and existing infrastructure will allow it to increase its flow to fulfill the same energy demand.

High speeds and big volumes, the study cautioned, might cause uncomfortable noise and echo pollution in indoor installations. Furthermore, because hydrogen is combustible, colorless, and odorless, it necessitates additional safety precautions when used.

After it was discovered that the building’s gas pressure regulators, gas shut-off switch, gas meter, and piping were inappropriate for hydrogen usage, the team noted that they needed to be updated.

He mentioned the implementation of a communication module enabling network operators to check the system’s integrity.

The tenants of the building will not perceive any difference in use or heating with the suggested arrangement compared to traditional central heating systems.

By 2050, the Netherlands intends to phase out natural gas from heating systems and replace it with low-carbon alternatives.

According to the Central Office of Statistics in the Netherlands, 92 percent of houses use gas for heating, and with local gas output diminishing, the country has come to rely on imported gas.

The Dutch government has lofty goals for sustainable energy sources and their potential contribution to the long-term heating of houses and buildings.

For decarbonizing the heating industry, the country has identified numerous solutions, including hydrogen, renewable electricity, or a mix of both.