Welcome to the first episode of ‘Heat Without Carbon’ a series of SGN podcasts exploring the future of heat in a rapidly approaching net zero economy. 

The UK and Scottish Governments have set some of the most ambitious targets in the world on climate change, with commitments to achieving ‘net zero’ by 2050 from the UK government and by 2045 from the Scottish Government.

Net Zero means any greenhouse gas emissions would have to be offset by by schemes to mitigate the damage, such as planting trees and using technology like carbon capture and storage.

I’m Colin Kelly and in this series of podcasts, I’m going to explore what this means for the way we heat our homes, power our heavy industries, and even decarbonise the most polluting vehicles on our roads, rail and water ways. And I’ll be speaking to some of the key players involved in moving our homes towards a cleaner, greener future.

In this first episode we’ll be looking at the potential for hydrogen gas to play a significant role on how we heat our homes, and how future customers might benefit.

We’ll discuss what customers need to know, how they’ll be affected, safety considerations as new fuels come into our homes and what the future might hold for a gas distribution network connected to more than 20 million UK homes, but largely hidden from view, under the ground.

And I’ll be hearing about the research, development and testing work going on at selected sites around the country that’s playing such an important role in getting us from where we are today, to where we need to be.

Enjoy the programme and search 'SGN Future Of Gas' to find out more. 

The second episode of Heat Without Carbon explores the potential for carbon-free hydrogen as a way to heat homes, through the lens of an important project in Scotland that could have implications for all of us.

Listen to community leaders, renowned technical experts and a Westminster politician give their views and explain how this world-first project in Fife could be a game changer, not just for decarbonisation – but for economic renewal in former industrial areas around the UK.

Three key voices in the debate about our clean energy future give their reaction to the UK Government’s recently published Energy White Paper: Powering our Net Zero Future. It’s the first white paper of its kind for 13 years and our experts explore some of its key points and implications for consumers, specifically the way we’ll heat our homes in the years to come.

Billed as a roadmap to “clean up our energy system and reach net zero emissions by 2050”, the Energy White Paper talks a lot about hydrogen, as well as electric heat pumps, carbon capture and storage and the role of consumers. Does it go far enough?

Listen to Barney Wharton, Director of Future Electricity Systems at Renewable UK, Matt Hindle, Head of Gas at the Energy Networks Association, and SGN’s Head of External Affairs, Joss Clarke.