Gas distribution company, SGN, has appointed leading engineering firm Altrad Babcock as the main works contractor for its world-first green H₂ project H100 Fife. Altrad Babcock will build the H₂ production and storage site for the project, supplying green H₂ to homes in Levenmouth in Fife. The awarding of the contract represents a key milestone for the project which will demonstrate how clean H₂ can be used for cooking and heating in homes.

Up to 300 homes can choose to opt-in to the H100 Fife project to be supplied with H₂ through a new distribution network which is due to go live in 2024. It will be the first 100% green H₂-to-homes zero carbon network anywhere in the world, demonstrating the potential for the entire UK gas network to deliver H₂ gas.

A 7-MW wind turbine, owned and operated by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult in Fife Energy Park since 2016, will supply the renewable electricity for the project’s H₂ production and storage site. Altrad Babcock will be responsible for building and integrating key elements of the site, designed by global engineering consultancy Arup. This includes carrying out civil, buildings and mechanical work as well as the electrical control and instrumentation (EC&I).

SGN’s CEO Mark Wild OBE, said, “We’re pleased to announce our appointment of Altrad Babcock. They have a wealth of experience in delivering pioneering energy sector projects and will bring considerable knowledge and know-how to H100 Fife.

“We’re thrilled to have overcome the global commercial and procurement challenges facing many construction projects and can now get on with building our production and storage site so we can deliver green H₂ into homes for the first time. Altrad Babcock aims to begin site development in the coming months, having already started work on procurement.”

The production and storage site will harness the renewable electricity from the turbine inside a new Energy Centre. This electricity will be fed into two alkaline electrolyzers totaling 5 MW which can deliver up to 2,093 kg/d of green H₂. The H₂ will be safely stored in six purpose-built pressure vessels which will ensure supply won’t be disrupted during even the coldest weather conditions. As well as being stored, the gas will be reduced in pressure by a pressure reduction station (PRS), before being delivered through a newly laid gas network to all the opted-in homes. The green H₂ will also be odorized to ensure it has the same distinctive smell as natural gas.

Altrad Babcock’s Vice President – Major Projects, David Cornforth, said, “We are delighted that we have been appointed main works contractor for SGN’s H100 Fife project. SGN, together with Arup, has developed the project to final design stage – and we are immensely proud of the role we will play in seeing it to fruition.

“This first of a kind project will demonstrate the practicality of bringing green H₂ gas to domestic customers for the first time, supporting evidence for future low carbon policy decisions and paving a clear path for similar applications in the future.”

Work to build H₂ demonstration homes in Fife Energy Park, alongside the production and storage site, has already begun and is being carried out by Scottish construction company Marshalls Construction. H100 Fife participants will be able to visit the demonstrations homes to test and use H₂ appliances and see how they are installed. The homes are due to open this summer.