Should I install a Hydrogen Boiler?

Boilers are the backbone of central heating in the UK, and as the country strives to achieve its net-zero carbon emissions target, hydrogen boilers are often touted as the future of home heating. However, despite hydrogen boilers being developed and tested, the majority of UK households still rely on gas boilers. In this blog post, we will explore if gas boilers are still the best option for UK households.

What are Hydrogen Boilers?

Hydrogen boilers are a new type of boiler that produce heat by burning hydrogen instead of natural gas. Hydrogen is a clean-burning gas that produces only water when burned, making it a promising alternative to natural gas, which releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere.

Why Are Hydrogen Boilers Not Widely Available Yet?

While hydrogen boilers hold great promise for reducing carbon emissions, they are still in the early stages of development and are not widely available in the market. There are also concerns over the production and distribution of hydrogen, and the cost of retrofitting homes to use hydrogen boilers.

Are Gas Boilers Still the Best Option?

Gas boilers are the most common type of boiler in the UK, and for good reason. They are reliable, efficient, and affordable. They can also be easily installed, maintained, and repaired by Gas Safe registered engineers. Additionally, the UK has a well-established gas infrastructure that makes it easy to distribute natural gas to homes across the country.

Energy Efficiency

While hydrogen boilers are touted as a more environmentally friendly option, modern gas boilers are highly energy efficient and can achieve up to 98% efficiency. This means that almost all the energy in the gas is converted into heat, resulting in lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions.

Cost

Gas boilers are significantly cheaper to install than hydrogen boilers, with the latter currently only available on a limited basis and at a premium price. While hydrogen may eventually become a more cost-effective option, it is not yet widely available and affordable for most households in the UK.

Availability

As mentioned earlier, the UK has a well-established gas infrastructure that makes natural gas easily available to homes across the country. Hydrogen, on the other hand, is still in the early stages of development and is not yet widely available. This means that switching to hydrogen boilers would require significant investment in production and distribution infrastructure.

Conclusion

While hydrogen boilers are an exciting development in the quest for cleaner, greener home heating solutions, they are still in the early stages of development and not yet widely available. Gas boilers remain the most popular choice, for now, thanks to their reliability, efficiency, affordability, and availability. We feel it is important to continue investing in research and development of hydrogen boilers, though, as a sustainable option for the future.

If you're based in Shropshire and need boiler installation, servicing, or repairs, our team of Gas Safe registered engineers are here to help. Contact us today for more information.