XRN 5531
Hydrogen Village Trial

Summary

*In December 2023, the government decided not to proceed with a hydrogen village trial. This was due to the main source of hydrogen needed for the trial not being available, as the hydrogen production for the village trial was not successful in securing funding through the hydrogen allocation round. As a result of this announcement, our associated hydrogen village trial change (XRN5531) has been withdrawn. 

Whilst this trial is no longer going ahead the government has confirmed that it recognises the potential role of hydrogen in home heating and will assess evidence from the neighbourhood trial in Fife (H100 Fife, which CDSP is actively supporting with the solution implemented under XRN5298), as well as similar schemes across Europe, to decide in 2026 whether and how hydrogen could help households in the journey to net zero.*

This Change proposal was raised for the CDSP to undertake an assessment establishing the potential impacts and DSC process changes to facilitate the consumption of a Hydrogen CV and that a settlement and billing process is in place for the affected Trial areas utilising Hydrogen. 

The processes designed as part of this Hydrogen Village Trial will need to be replicable for the next phase of Hydrogen development, so cannot be designed specifically for this trial alone.

Items for Xoserve to consider but not be limited to:

• Transporter, Shipper and Supplier Licences
• Gas Act
• Gas (Calculation of Thermal Energy) Regulations
• UNC & IGTUNC
• REC
• Settlement
• Energy tracking and Billing systems and processes
• IGT Networks
• Metering
• Calorific Value
• LPG Networks

Some of the impacted items identified by this Change Proposal may not be required for the Hydrogen Village Trial but may be applicable to later trials.

Xoserve will also be required to lead/support DNs with Industry communications ensuring that all Industry parties are aware of the projects, impacts, and the change requirements.