RESIDENTS in Whitby who could be part of a new pilot scheme for the UK’s first hydrogen village have spoken out to express their concerns.

Kate Grannell, from Whitby, is a resident involved in the Hydrogen Village proposal.

She set up a Facebook group called ‘Residents of the Whitby Hydrogen Village Proposal’, which currently has more than 700 members, so there is a safe space for residents to discuss the proposal.

The proposal plans for around 2,000 homes in Whitby to be part of the UK’s first Hydrogen Village.

They will use 100 per cent hydrogen for heating, cooking and hot water, instead of the natural gas they use now.

Everything is on track for this to happen in 2025.

Cadent, British Gas and Cheshire West and Chester Council, the partners in this project, have recently opened the Hydrogen Experience Centre, for anyone to come ask questions, as well as see two boilers, fires, a hob and other common household appliances all fuelled by 100 per cent hydrogen.

Speaking to the Globe, Kate said: “Me and so many other residents have questions that we want to be answered.

“Our concern is Cadent and British Gas have a very vested interest in this going ahead, so we want to get information from an independent source about whether this is a safe trial and whether we’re going to be financially affected from it.

“I’ve had messages from people who have said they are losing sleep over it and have no idea what’s going on.”

Kate has organised to speak to Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston this Saturday (October, 29) to discuss residents’ concerns in more detail.

Residents in the Facebook group are either for the pilot, completely against it or have questions they want answered to understand the scheme more.

Kate added: “I don’t want the group to be biased or negative.

“I have had to do so much research about hydrogen and what it even means to have it in your home.”

Thus far, Kate and other Whitby residents have had an initial visit from Cadent in June, a brochure covering some of the FAQs about the scheme and a newsletter.

She said: “Of course, we were all interested in the pilot. I asked for more information and Cadent said they didn’t have any more at the time.

“I asked Cadent, if I don’t want to be part of the pilot scheme, what are my options? And I was told that I would have to change to electric or a heat pump, not knowing what that means for me as a resident.”

Kate explained that she has had no information from Cheshire West and Chester Council or any sources other than Cadent, the Government and British Gas.

She said: “If we are only receiving information from one corporation who are going to get financial gain, it is a biased market.

“They are selling it to me saying that I’m going to get a shiny new boiler, but we cannot find any independent sources that back hydrogen in a domestic environment which is why we are concerned.

“We want communication with engineers and scientists, people in the energy industry who won’t financially gain from this.”

A spokesperson for Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “In 2023, Ofgem will confirm which location the trial programme will go ahead in.

"Hydrogen would be supplied to that location from 2025 for the duration of the programme - currently expected to last at least two years - and will help the UK Government decide how hydrogen could be used nationally.

“Under current plans, homes and businesses will be given a choice between replacing their existing natural gas appliances with either hydrogen-capable appliances or using an alternative energy supply such as electricity, there would be no charges for this."

Marc Clarke, Head of Hydrogen Consumer at Cadent said: “The Hydrogen Village trial is set to test the feasibility of transitioning the existing natural gas network to a hydrogen network. To do this we have been engaging with local residences in many ways since early this year.

“We have held a number of events and meetings at the Civic Hall, in the local park, Morrisons and City Plumbing, initially to explain the project to the community. 

“We are now in the process of carrying out ‘In-house hydrogen assessments’. These are free gas safety checks to ensure the pipe work is suitable to carry hydrogen gas and also that the existing appliances are safe. Once we have this information, we will be able to make an assessment for the next stage. 

“Later this year, we will be engaging with residents again and ask them whether they would like to convert to hydrogen, as part of this trial. Residents do have a choice. Fully hydrogen, partially hydrogen or an electricity option.

"We are at the early stages of this project and we are continually communicating with residents.  Now that the Hydrogen Experience Centre is opened, we are encouraging residents to come and visit us and we are happy to answer their questions.

"Last week all residents were sent the Hydrogen Village Handbook, this gives more details and will answer the majority of questions residents have. Letters have been sent out, there is a dedicated website, dedicated phone number to call, email address to send their questions and residents can sign up to the monthly newsletter too.

“We are happy that the local residents are engaging so much with this project and I would like to encourage them to continue to ask their questions and visit us at the Hydrogen Experience Centre. 

"As requested we are collating independent information together to share with the local community to help them understand the project and make decisions and choices for the future.”