2G ENERGY EMBARKS ON UK’S FIRST ‘ROAD TO NET ZERO TOUR’

Runcorn, 18/05/2023 – Industry and policymakers across the UK can discover how hydrogen power can fuel their journey to net zero as 2G Energy, a leading manufacturer of combined heat and power (CHP) systems, takes its innovative technology on tour for the first time.

On May 22^nd, 2G will be bringing a CHP engine to WB Power Services in Ilkeston, Derbyshire as part of its ‘Road to Net Zero Tour’. The tour will be the first of its kind to showcase a 100% hydrogen-powered CHP engine, giving business leaders, national and local policymakers and planners the opportunity to understand how a hydrogen CHP engine works. The technology can help the UK achieve its 2050 net zero ambitions.

Mark Holtmann, Managing Director of 2G said “Hydrogen is set to play a vital role as the UK looks for long-term ways to meet its carbon reduction targets. Hydrogen’s importance has become increasingly clear over the past few months of energy supply upheaval and the impact of war in Ukraine.

“With our innovative 100% green hydrogen CHP system installed at Kirkwall Airport on the Orkney Islands, we wanted to bring this technology on the road to reach as many people as possible. We are committed to promoting hydrogen to achieve a net zero world and we want to demonstrate how CHPs can be integrated into a wide variety of industries and applications such as hospitals, schools, hotels and leisure facilities to provide energy reliability and resilience.”

Andy Wilmott, Managing Director of WB Power Services added “We are very excited to be taking part in the first ‘Road to Net Zero Tour’ and look forward to welcoming 2G Energy and our other invitees. WBPS provides critical power services to some of the UK’s most important businesses and organisations, ensuring essential services are protected across data centres, hospitals, schools, government sites and other commercial operations. A hydrogen-powered CHP engine will play a crucial role in providing these services while also helping businesses and organisations to accelerate their journey to net zero.”

Working in partnership with Altrad Babcock, 2G installed the UK’s first 100% hydrogen CHP solution at Kirkwall Airport in the Orkney Islands. Once fully commissioned, the CHP system will be integrated with the airport’s existing heating system to meet some of the heating and power requirements of the main airport building. Funded by the Scottish Government, the CHP installation at Kirkwall Airport is part of a series of initiatives led by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in collaboration with Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) to decarbonise the airport. A study undertaken by EMEC found that space and water heating demand in the airport terminal represented the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions after aircraft operations.

The UK Government is committed to developing the low carbon hydrogen economy and has identified up to 20GW of potential hydrogen projects through to 2037. Even though there are already 2G CHPs operating on 100% hydrogen worldwide, there is no need to go entirely 100% hydrogen straight away. 2G’s standard engines can run on blends of gases, including hydrogen at up to 40%, before a simple engine retrofit is required to accommodate a higher percentage of hydrogen. Hydrogen-enabled CHP systems can use a blend of input gases and enable a gradual entry into the hydrogen economy – the sudden decommissioning or start-up of large infrastructure projects is not necessary – and these systems can reduce operational costs and carbon emissions.

Since 2012, 2G has successfully installed over 8000 CHP plants in 55 countries. 2G was presented with the COGEN Europe Technology & Innovation Award for the Kirkwall Airport project.

2G’s ‘Road to Net Zero Tour’ is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.

The tour will also stop at All-Energy 2023 in Glasgow (May 10-11); Centrica, Windsor (May 17); Bohr Ltd, Stone (May 18) and the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association’s Annual Conference in London (May 24).