Totally Modular are proud to be the chosen manufacturers to deliver Britain’s first hydrogen homes for Northern Gas Networks.
The two show homes where all the appliances are powered entirely by hydrogen are being built in the Totally Modular factory in West Midlands and then being transported to the Low Thornley site in Gateshead.
These houses started as a robust hybrid steel frame and will achieve a build status of up to 95% completion before they are delivered to site in Gateshead for finishes touches and zipping up upon arrival.
Homes beginning as a steel frame
Totally Modular are a manufacturer of residential housing solutions based in the West Midlands producing volumetric modular homes to near carbon zero standards for the much needed affordable housing crisis.
The houses will use 100% hydrogen for heating and cooking in appliances including boilers, hobs, cookers and fires under a new government scheme intended to offer the public a glimpse into “the potential home of the future”.
Members of the public will be able to see how these appliances compare with ones run on natural gas.
It is part of the government’s drive to phase out the use of fossil fuels. Unlike natural gas, which is responsible for over 30% of the UK’s carbon emissions, hydrogen’s only by-product at the point of use is water.
The project secured a £250,000 grant from the government’s Hy4Heat Innovation programme and is being run by gas company Northern Gas Networks and Cadent. Homes beginning as a steel frame.
Energy Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said these homes:
“Will showcase how low-carbon hydrogen can transform the way we power our homes and offer a glimpse of what the future holds as we build back greener.
From running a hot bath and cooking our evening meals to turning on the heating, most of us use natural gas every day.
However, to tackle climate change, we need to find alternatives to fossil fuels and move towards making clean energy the norm.”
While these new houses in Gateshead will look like any other, they will showcase how low carbon hydrogen can transform the way we power our homes.”
Former Energy Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Mark Horsley, Chief Executive Officer of NGN said…
”We’re delighted to be at the forefront of innovation, giving customers a glimpse into a hydrogen-heated home of the future.
Customers understand the impact on carbon emissions of running a diesel or petrol car, but the impact of home heating is less well understood. We believe a hydrogen gas network could provide the least invasive and most cost-effective route to zero carbon home heating for the majority of UK homes.
Gas networks are reliable and extremely resilient and responsive to demands. With 85% of the UK connected to the gas network it is logical to repurpose this vast asset to carry a clean-burning gas like hydrogen.”