NEW HYDROGEN BOILERS BY SMARTGAS SOLUTIONS

director and fully qualified heating and gas engineer mark hendrie of smartgas solutions edinburgh

LOOKING FOR MORE INFO ON HYDROGEN BOILERS?

REACH OUT TO THE TEAM

hydrogen boilers edinburgh from SmartGas

What Are The Changes We Are Likely To See With Hydrogen BoilerS?

Hydrogen boilers are most definitely on the way, and switching the UK’s gas supply to hydrogen has been met with widespread scepticism.

Some believe this will lead to higher prices and less reliable heating, while others are concerned about the environmental impact of using such fuel.

However, switching to hydrogen has some benefits—for example, it is much more efficient than traditional gas boilers.

So whether you’re worried about the cost or sustainability, we want you to know what you need to know about these plans.

You may have heard about recent proposals in England by ministers intent on moving over towards a hydrogen economy as an eventual replacement for our current reliance on fossil fuels like gas and coal – though many remain dubious of its potential implications both environmentally and economically speaking. Whilst most changes won’t happen overnight (and likely won’t be complete until at least 2030), here’s what you need to remember.

Benefits of switching from Gas Boilers To Hydrogen Heating

One key advantage touted for transitioning away from traditional gas boilers is their comparative lack of emissions when compared with other forms of heating like oil or wood pellets, given that one significant driver behind developing renewables.

Are Regular Gas Boilers Going To Be Banned?

Some recent headlines claim that banning gas boilers will come into effect in 2025, but this is only for newly constructed properties.

Existing homes with standard gas boilers will still be using natural gas as the primary heating fuel. That leaves 2 primary home heating solutions for the future: a Heat Pump or a boiler that runs on hydrogen.

How Will The Switch To Hydrogen Happen?

The UK government plans to replace natural gas with hydrogen gas as an environmentally friendly choice. The change will not happen in one go but will occur gradually, causing only minor problems and costs to you, the homeowner.

Boiler manufacturers are developing a new standard that will allow the UK to switch to 100% hydrogen in the future.

There is still much to be learned about installing and operating hydrogen-ready boilers.

In the meantime, we must have ‘hydrogen blend boilers’ ready for operation (learn more below).

We should know more about how this switch will start to happen by 2026, but this is the current plan.

The first stage would involve using it as a supplementary heating fuel for existing homes, the second stage would involve using it as the main heating fuel for new builds, and finally, the third stage would involve retrofitting older homes with hydrogen-powered technology.

Phase 1

Involves using it as a supplementary heating fuel for existing homes

Phase 2

Would involve using it as the main heating fuel for newbuilds

Phase 3

Would involve retrofitting older homes with hydrogen-powered technology

HYDROGEN BOILER FAQs

What Is A Hydrogen Boiler?

A hydrogen boiler burns its fuel slightly differently from gas boilers, which requires a slightly different design.

This change is minimal, considering the massive benefit of decarbonising our homes.

It may seem like a big change away from natural gas, but you won’t see any noticeable changes in your current setup.

How Much Will A Hydrogen Boiler Cost Compared To Natural Gas Boilers?

The good news is that major boiler manufacturers have noted that their boilers will cost no more than the gas boiler you may already have.

The other good news is that it essentially works the same, so ongoing maintenance and installation shouldn’t increase in price either.

What's The Point In Changing To Hydrogen?

The main reason is lowering CO2.

Fossil fuels like natural gas produce carbon dioxide, which is a major contributor to global warming and, subsequently, changing climates worldwide.

Water is the only by-product of hydrogen, so this is a massive win.

This will play a huge part in reaching net zero by 2050.

When Will We Switch To Hydrogen Boilers Likely Happen?

It is uncertain when, but we will likely see the hydrogen blend (20%) added within the next ten years. A switch to 100% hydrogen will take longer, and most people will be ready for this change by then.

Hydrogen boilers essentially decarbonise our homes, and this is the main plus of the fuel. Heat pumps will also play a big part in this and will still work in homes in Scotland. You can learn more about them in this Air Source Heat Pumps article.

What Does A Hydrogen Blend Ready Boiler Actually Mean?

Part of the switch to hydrogen will include running a mixture of natural gas (80%) and hydrogen (20%).

This ‘blend’ of fuels will help to switch towards 100% hydrogen, but the good news is that current boilers will not have to adapt to this blend.

As the switch to 100% isn’t likely to be anytime soon (decades rather than years), this will future-proof your current home heating setup.

Will My Gas Boiler Still Work With 100% Hydrogen?

When the eventual switch to 100% hydrogen happens, you will either require a hydrogen-ready boiler or need to modify your current boiler.

This mod will mainly involve the burner itself and will likely only take a gas-safe engineer one hour to complete. This qualification will be similar to that given to engineers who can work on LPG, for example. All our engineers at SmartGas will be Hydrogen ready when the time comes.

FIVE Star Service

We’re not happy until you’re happy. At SmartGas, we intend to keep our 5-star reputation.

Professional Engineers

We pride ourselves on our fully qualified engineers. We never sub-contract our work.

Licence & Insured

As you’d expect, we don’t cut corners and make sure all our customers are protected.

Why Choose SmartGas for Your Boiler?

We look forward to being of service; here’s what you can expect.

N

Experienced Engineers

All our engineers are Gas Safe Registered and have extensive experience with a wide range of boiler models. Our team receives ongoing training to stay updated on the latest technologies.

N

Fast Response Times

We understand that a broken boiler is an emergency, especially during the winter. Our team aims to respond quickly to minimise the time you’re left without heating or hot water.

N

Transparent Pricing

Our pricing is clear and straightforward, with no hidden charges. We provide an upfront quote before starting any work.

N

Emergency Boiler Repairs

We offer emergency boiler repair services, ensuring we’re there when you need us most. Our engineers can fix issues quickly, keeping you warm and safe.

N

Trusted Local Company

With years of service in Edinburgh, we’ve built a reputation as a trusted local heating company backed by Edinburgh Trusted Trader and Which? Trusted Trader. Our focus is always on delivering quality workmanship and excellent customer service.

GET IN TOUCH

Contact us anytime by phone, email, or our website forms. We're ready to answer your questions.