Worcester Bosch has officially revealed its new hydrogen-fired boiler.
The manufacturer said it believes hydrogen gas is the solution for reducing carbon emissions in heating.
Replacing natural gas boilers with hydrogen gas may be the simplest solution to the nation’s heating problems, it said. The main by-product of burning hydrogen gas is water, making it a carbon-free fuel source and could be a key method to help decarbonise heating and hot water in UK homes.
The Worcester prototype hydrogen boiler fits into the same footprint as a current natural gas boiler. The hydrogen-ready boiler is designed to be a direct replacement to natural gas, burning natural gas on its first day up until the switch to hydrogen occurs.
It also has a similar build to existing boilers, meaning installers will already have most the skills necessary to fit these products, a statement added.
Martyn Bridges, director of technical communication and product management at Worcester Bosch, said: “The development of hydrogen-fired boilers will mean millions of existing heating systems in our homes can be saved, rather than the entire system needing to be replaced.
“The beauty of hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas is that as well as water as a by-product, Worcester Bosch has developed a technical solution that will feel familiar to both homeowners and installers. The gas network is also in place, so homeowners won’t experience any major infrastructure disruption.
“With fully developed prototypes, various trials planned and many heating engineers and manufacturers in agreement that this could be a viable solution to decarbonise heating and hot water, we are hopeful that the future will be hydrogen.”
Over the last few years, Worcester Bosch has been advocating for hydrogen, and developed a prototype boiler that can run on 100% hydrogen gas.