UKRI invests £33 million in HyNet project

Published 27th October, 2022 by Jess Mills

From 2025, HyNet will convert natural gas into low-carbon hydrogen reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 10 million tonnes per annum.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will provide £33 million, matched by £39 million from industry, to support the deployment of the HyNet project.

UKRI's Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge (IDC) supports the development of low-carbon technologies and infrastructure, increasing industry competitiveness and contributing to the UK’s clean growth.

IDC has a budget of £210 million to invest in sustainable projects.

From 2025, HyNet will begin to convert natural gas into low-carbon hydrogen reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 10 million tonnes per annum.

Both Pilkington UK and Encirc have already taken initiatives as part of the HyNet project.

Encirc plans to be one of the first organisations to make use of the hydrogen supplied by HyNet. The company plans to melt glass with hydrogen instead of relying on less sustainable fuels.

Meanwhile, Pilkington fired hydrogen on its glass furnace in August 2021 in a world-first trial as part of HyNet.

The project is also supported by partners including Progressive Energy, Cadent Gas, Eni, Essar Oil (UK), Hanson UK, INOVYN, and the University of Chester.

Jess Mills

Glass International Deputy Editor

Jess is the Deputy Editor of Glass International magazine. She has been training in creative and professional writing since 2017, earning her degree in 2020. Prior to joining Quartz Business Media, Jess worked as a freelance writer for a variety of companies and publications.