A current public assembly in Redcar, Yorkshire, make clear residents’ considerations relating to a proposed trial for utilizing hydrogen fuel as a heating supply of their properties.
The gathering, attended by greater than 80 native residents and 30 on-line listeners, emphasised the potential issues of safety related to this trial, which goals to incorporate as much as 1,800 properties.
Cambridge College Professor, David Cebon, instructed the assembly that he was stunned the Well being and Security Government had not been requested to report on the security points of the trial earlier than a authorities choice was introduced.
The professor of mechanical engineering mentioned considerations wanted to be tackled completely: “Hydrogen collects in excessive locations the place lights are. It additionally has a a lot wider explosive vary, so you may have a small or great amount and it’ll nonetheless go bang, whereas pure fuel must be in a slender vary.”
Northern Fuel Networks (NGN), the corporate set to conduct the trial didn’t attend the assembly.
An NGN spokesperson instructed Power Stay Information: “Guaranteeing individuals really feel comfy with the transfer to hydrogen or electrical energy is a precedence, and we’ve got labored tirelessly during the last 18 months to interact with and reassure residents and companies, by way of drop-in classes, door-knocking and a public assembly.
“We now have a Hydrogen Hub on the Excessive Avenue in Redcar open Tuesdays to Saturdays the place clients are capable of communicate to us nose to nose and ask any questions they may have.
“We declined our invitation to attend final week’s assembly, largely as a result of we’ve got beforehand seen misinformation on our mission being circulated in the neighborhood. This has originated from individuals who declare to be unbiased consultants, however who don’t have any prior observe report of expertise in fuel community administration or fuel community security.
“This misinformation could cause alarm and undue fear to residents and to attend would have given the impression the assembly was formally linked to the mission.
“Because the operator of the fuel community security is our primary precedence and we’ll by no means compromise our security report. The HSE additionally must be happy earlier than the mission can proceed.”
