Blending Hydrogen in the UK's Gas Transmission Grid Network
UK Government Consults on Hydrogen Blending in GB Gas Network
The UK government is actively seeking opinions on the potential benefits and feasibility of blending hydrogen into the Great Britain (GB) gas transmission network. The consultation, launched by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) in July 2025, aims to support the early development of the hydrogen economy and contribute to the net zero by 2050 targets.
Consultation Launch and Objectives
The consultation targets up to around 2% hydrogen blending by volume initially, building on prior government consultations for up to 20% blending in distribution networks. The government’s objectives include reducing costs of hydrogen production projects, potentially lowering consumer energy bills, increasing energy system flexibility, and supporting hydrogen's role in decarbonization.
Industry Support
Hydrogen UK and the Hydrogen Energy Association have expressed strong support for the government’s hydrogen blending consultation and infrastructure initiatives. These organizations believe that these measures will drive economic growth, create jobs, and advance the UK's hydrogen economy.
Technical Work and Trials
National Gas, operator of the NTS, has been conducting trials with the FutureGrid project in Cumbria, including blending 2% hydrogen with natural gas at high pressure and advancing toward pipelines repurposed for 100% hydrogen testing. This technical work will inform safety and reliability considerations.
Commercial, Market, Technical, and Billing Arrangements
The consultation explicitly seeks stakeholder input on the framework for blending implementation, including commercial arrangements that would govern hydrogen blending at the transmission level. This includes tariff design, market participation, and cost allocation structures to ensure fair integration into the gas market and possible impacts on consumer billing.
Stakeholder Views
CEOs from hydrogen production projects, such as Hynamics UK, view the blending consultation and hydrogen infrastructure developments as critical milestones that provide confidence and momentum for scaling up hydrogen production and use.
Timeline and Next Steps
The consultation opened in July 2025 with a response deadline of September 16, 2025. Findings and decisions on blending feasibility and implementation are expected by the end of 2025. Subsequent infrastructure investments and policy implementations are planned to align with large-scale hydrogen transport and storage networks becoming operational around 2031.
The consultation is open to all, but it is expected to be of most interest to stakeholders involved in the hydrogen economy and natural gas networks. The consultation seeks views from hydrogen consumers, consumer champions, gas shippers, and gas transporters. It also takes into account developments across Europe in relation to the EU Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Market Package. The consultation aims to gather evidence on the strategic and economic value of blending hydrogen into the existing GB gas transmission network.
- The hydrogen economy's growth and industry expansion in the UK could be supported through financially viable hydrogen production projects, as one of the government's objectives for the hydrogen blending consultation.
- The consultation on hydrogen blending in the GB gas network is not limited to domestic stakeholders; it also seeks input from the EU and renewable-energy market participants, especially those involved in hydrogen consumption, production, and transportation, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the strategic and economic value of integrating hydrogen into the existing energy system.
