Frequently asked questions and press information

The Hydrogen Experience Centre is a model home that can be heated with both natural gas and hydrogen. This is enabled by two central heating boilers: one that works on hydrogen and one that works on natural gas. By connecting the desired boiler to the pipes in the house, we can allow the desired gas to flow through for heating water and rooms.

The house is a joint project of Kiwa and Dutch energy network provider Alliander. Kiwa has a great deal of knowledge in the field of sustainable energy supply and Alliander has extensive knowledge of energy networks. Both companies see hydrogen as a promising part of the future energy supply and are happy to help that change with the construction of this house.

The demo house is an important step for Alliander in researching and testing how we can heat homes using hydrogen. Such a switch to a hydrogen network requires a lot of knowledge and training. Not only when it comes to the use of hydrogen itself, but also when it comes to the maintenance and management of a hydrogen network. The Hydrogen Experience Centre can make an important contribution to this. Here we can train heating technicians and engineers in a controlled manner and show what the application of hydrogen in the built environment will look like in practice.

For Kiwa, the house is a place to demonstrate that, thanks to adapted measuring and control equipment and installation techniques, there are no longer any insurmountable technological challenges that hinder the application of hydrogen in the built environment. In the Hydrogen Experience Centre, interested parties (for example home owners, administrators and companies) can see what the conversion of a central heating system to hydrogen looks like in practice. And the great thing is that the conversion is actually not a lot of work. If green hydrogen is available, only the pressure regulator, gas regulator and hydrogen boiler need to be replaced. Cooking on hydrogen is unfortunately not yet possible, so a switch would have to be made to electric cooking appliances.

Various projects are underway regarding the application of hydrogen in the built environment. The technical challenges are not insurmountable, but for the technology to be marketable and safe on a large scale, additional knowledge is required. And that requires a lot of additional research. For example, in Leeds Kiwa has been collaborating for years on research for which test homes have also been built. The knowledge gained there is shared with the British network operators. In the Netherlands, in Lochem, Alliander is investigating whether homes with a natural gas connection can be converted to hydrogen. Here, practical experience is gained with the distribution of hydrogen gas through existing gas pipes. These are just two of the many hydrogen projects that have been started in recent years.

That's right. A wooden house was chosen because it is less expensive to build and does not detract from the concept. Initially, we planned to build a house in a laboratory. However, the wooden house outside Kiwa’s Apeldoorn office is closer to reality. In addition, we wanted a house that could be built quickly (this house was basically built in three days) and that can be moved in the long term.

‘All electric’ or a heating network is often a great alternative for heating houses. But in the built environment there is not always room for a heating network or homes are not suitable for ‘all electric’ heating. Hydrogen is then an alternative energy carrier with a lot of potential. The pilot in Lochem focuses on the most difficult target group: buildings with a landmark status. These can hardly be heated in a climate-neutral way, which is why we focus on hydrogen there.

The conversion of stove that runs on natural gas to hydrogen requires quite a few adjustments. We are currently not aware of any manufacturer who has ‘kits’ for converting a natural gas appliance to hydrogen, although suppliers are working on devices that can be converted. Since there are currently no hydrogen cooking appliances on the market, gas cookers are being replaced by electric ones. There is also an electric stove in this house. This does not matter for the training purpose of this house, because there are plenty of other pipes in the kitchen that technicians have to take into account during their training. In addition, for the energy transition, it is not the cooking stove, but the central heating boiler that is the most important device to convert. The amount of energy we consume through the boiler is ten to twenty times greater than what we use when cooking.

The demo house with work pits for gas pipes is an important step for Alliander in researching how homes can be heated. Such a switch to a hydrogen network requires a lot of knowledge and training. Not only when it comes to the use of hydrogen itself, but also when it comes to the maintenance and management of a hydrogen network. In the Hydrogen Experience Centre, technicians can get controlled training and see for themselves what things will look like in practice. As a network operator, Alliander works together with Kiwa, Remeha and an installer to ensure that hydrogen can be used safely along the entire chain, from network to indoor installation and the boiler.

True, several network operators are currently conducting pilots. We all try to address a different aspect and share the knowledge. One focuses on an electrolyser, the other includes a gas station in its pilot, etc. With the help of these pilots we want to gain insight into the technical and safety aspects, permits and business potential of hydrogen application. With these insights, we can adjust our network and energy models, have the necessary technology developed and enter into discussions with regulators and permit issuers about the processes required for these types of installations. In this way we can better anticipate developments in the coming years and expand our networks efficiently and on time.

Unfortunately, that is not yet possible. It is a boiler from a first small series. In any case, hydrogen must first be available in your neighbourhood if you want to be able to use this boiler.

No, the current boilers are built for Dutch natural gas and cannot simply be converted to run on hydrogen. This requires special parts and specialist knowledge that is not yet widely available.

Unfortunately, at this moment this is not yet possible due to competition-sensitive. We expect this will be possible from 2022.

Heating mechanics and installers can work with hydrogen indoors as part of their training. Of course, this does not apply to the technicians of network operators who are normally active outside, on the street. They can work with hydrogen in the work pits around the hydrogen house. There they deal with, for example, the installation of T-joints and the replacement of connection pipes. You want to be able to train all these kinds of actions in a place where making mistakes has few consequences. And that is all possible around the Hydrogen Experience Centre.

Hydrogen (H₂) is a colorless, odorless, highly flammable, but non-toxic gas. Under normal circumstances hydrogen is gaseous, but it can be liquefied if the temperature is lowered to –253 degrees Celsius. Hydrogen does not exist in pure form on this planet, but must be made by splitting it off from water (H₂O) or hydrocarbons (CₓH_y). Depending on the way it is made, this energy carrier is assigned a color: gray, blue, green. You can read more about this below.

Hydrogen can be produced in many different ways. The production process determines how sustainable it is and therefore what color the hydrogen will get. The hydrogen colors you mostly come across are:

• Green hydrogen: Hydrogen that has been produced completely sustainably. Electrolysis of water is the best known process. Water (H₂O) is split into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) using fully sustainably generated electricity. The gasification of biomass is a second process with which green hydrogen can be obtained in a sustainable manner.
• Gray hydrogen: Hydrogen produced from natural gas. This hydrogen is produced by means of Steam Methane Reforming (SMR), in which steam (H₂O) reacts under high pressure with natural gas (CH₄) to form hydrogen (H₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). Because this CO₂ is released into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas, it is referred to as gray hydrogen.
• Blue hydrogen: Hydrogen that is made in the same way as gray hydrogen. However, most of the CO₂ released during production is captured here (80-90%) and reused or stored (for example in empty gas fields under the North Sea). That makes this hydrogen more sustainable.

There are a number of differences in terms of properties. For example, hydrogen is lighter than natural gas, it rises a little faster and mixes more quickly with air. But like natural gas, hydrogen is odorless, which is why we add an odorant. When you light the gas, a hydrogen flame is almost invisible and the energy content per molecule is smaller by a factor of three. So if you want to get your house just as warm with hydrogen as with natural gas, you have to use three times as much gas. This is not a problem in terms of capacity, because the gas has a lower density. In addition to these molecular properties, a very important difference between natural gas and hydrogen is that no CO₂ is released during the combustion of hydrogen. Combustion of hydrogen therefore does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. And because there is no carbon in hydrogen, no carbon monoxide can be formed with incomplete combustion of the gas. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning has therefore also disappeared. If you produce hydrogen with sustainable generated energy, it is a completely green and renewable energy carrier.

All gases are different and have their own concerns when it comes to safety. A great advantage of hydrogen is that there is no carbon monoxide poisoning can occur in the combustion. This is because there is no carbon monoxide (CO) in the combustion product of hydrogen. In addition, the often underestimated danger of suffocation from the release of hydrogen is just as great as with natural gas. It is not yet entirely clear whether the distribution and use of hydrogen in the built environment is more dangerous or safer. Some studies conclude a smaller safety risk, others a higher risk compared to natural gas. Where hydrogen safety risks seem smaller, the measures and requirements for natural gas are used. Where the risks are still unclear or appear to be greater, additional measures are taken. Based on the latest knowledge of research organisations such as Kiwa, the measures at network providers such as Alliander are continuously adjusted. Safety has the highest priority for all parties involved.

Hydrogen is more ‘agile’ than natural gas, that's right. But in practice this difference has only limited significance. For the distribution of hydrogen it is important to know whether too much hydrogen is escaping from the pipes. Practical tests have shown that hydrogen diffuses somewhat more easily through plastics (a pipe’s lining, but that this amount is still negligible. In practice, the permeation is not noticeable for both gases and is never dangerous.

In volume, more hydrogen will indeed flow away, but that does not mean that the same amount of energy is lost. The amount of energy (the calorific value) of hydrogen is approximately one third of that of natural gas (≈3.25 kWh/Nm³ compared to ≈10 kWh/Nm³). On the other hand, about one and a half to three times as much hydrogen flows out of a given opening. The amount of energy in hydrogen that is released is in the worst case the same as that of natural gas. For the experts: the Wobbe index is virtually the same for hydrogen and natural gas (around 50).

But it’s not. Natural gas is also odorless in itself and just like natural gas, hydrogen will be anodorised (an odor is added). The same fragrance (THT) can be used for this in the same concentration, so hydrogen smells exactly the same as natural gas. From an environmental point of view and to prevent damage to fuel cells, it is also possible in the future to opt for a different, sulfur-free fragrance.

No, that is not dangerous if you handle hydrogen responsibly. Pure hydrogen does indeed burn almost invisibly, only in the dark a red glow may be visible. Seeing a flame while cooking will be difficult, but an invisible flame in the boiler is harmless.

That's right, just like natural gas and many other gases. The properties of hydrogen are different from those of natural gas, which is why the joint network operators and research organisations in Europe are conducting a lot of research into the application of hydrogen. The starting point in all studies is that the use of hydrogen must be just as safe as that of natural gas.

Hydrogen will only ignite if a combustible mixture of gas and air has been formed and an ignition source with sufficient energy is present. The ignition energy required to ignite a gas mixture depends on the concentration of hydrogen mixed with air. With small leaks, which is mostly the case, the ignition energy is higher than that of natural gas. However, with large leaks (where the concentration of hydrogen in the gas-air mixture is higher), the ignition energy is lower than with natural gas. What will happen in practice, in particular with excavation damage, is still unclear. This will of course be carefully monitored. In addition, many experiments are carried out to find out all the details about working with hydrogen in different practical situations.

Indeed, much of the hydrogen that is now being produced is not green. But there are many plans to achieve large-scale production of green hydrogen. Network operators must already start testing the network in order to be ready in time for this green hydrogen. The production of green hydrogen will start when a lot of electricity is generated by offshore wind farms. All that energy can be transported in the form of hydrogen about twenty times cheaper than in the form of electricity. In addition, work is being done in the Middle East on extremely large solar energy installations for the production of green hydrogen. It is expected that this hydrogen will be transported to Europe via pipelines or by ships between 2027 and 2030.

On the contrary, hydrogen appears to be even quieter in the pipes and at gas pressure regulating stations than natural gas. This difference is significant and remains favorable even if the required higher volume flow is taken into account.

If it is up to us as soon as possible. The biggest obstacle to scaling up the production and transport of green hydrogen lies in the development of the hydrogen market. Green hydrogen cannot compete with current (environmentally polluting) alternatives yet. Concrete investments and incentives by governments can give the production, transport and export of hydrogen the push that is needed to bring it to your home.

Most of the gas consumption in a home (90% or more) is spent on space heating. If you use hydrogen for that, you have come a long way. And nowadays there are plenty of fine options for cooking electrically.

The Hydrogen Experience Centre is a unique training location where heating mechanics and technicians can acquire the skills they need to switch to hydrogen. It is also the ideal place to show that we can bring hydrogen safely to the built environment. Alliander and Kiwa are working hard on various hydrogen training courses. From introductory courses for policymakers to technical training for safety authorities, technicians and installers.

We use pilot programs to investigate which questions are at play and how our experts can best answer them. Such a pilot is a specially tailored training program based on our existing hydrogen courses, combined with our latest knowledge in the field of hydrogen. Interested in being the first to acquire the latest knowledge in the field of hydrogen? Send a message to technology@kiwa.nl and we will gladly tell you more!

No training is currently being developed for this. For reasons of competition, the technology in the hydrogen boiler is not public for the time being. The boiler will therefore remain closed for a while.

That depends on what you are looking for. Kiwa has been researching hydrogen applications for years and has been sharing that knowledge in a number of courses for some time. With one email to technology@kiwa.nl you can find out whether those courses meet your needs. And if that is not the case, we will develop a tailor-made pilot program together with you, based on our latest knowledge in the field of hydrogen in the built environment, the mobility sector and industry. The first pilot meetings for safety authorities have already been planned! In addition, a lot of work is being done on professional training courses in which mechanics and installers can specialise in the safe conversion of natural gas boilers to hydrogen. The Alliander technicians will soon be working on this in the Hydrogen Experience Centre.

We are currently handling each request individually. If you are interested, you can send an email to technology@kiwa.nl.

Every training is unique. We would like to hear what questions you have and we will find out how our experts can best answer them. Hydrogen in the built environment, the mobility sector and industry are all hot topics at the moment and we have the latest knowledge about this.

Of course! Send an email to technology@kiwa.nl and together we will see how we can best give substance to your visit.

Meetings, teambuilding events, presentations, guided tours, etc. These are all possible in our Hydrogen Experience Centre. Would you like a tour, know more about hydrogen, hear hydrogen explode or just hold a meeting in silence? Everything is possible. You can request more information about the possibilities and arrangements via technology@kiwa.nl. The options for a visit are of course dependent on availability and corona measures applicable at the time of the visit.

Unfortunately that is not possible. The hydrogen house is only used as a training location and as a demo or event space.

The Hydrogen Experience Centre is located on the Kiwa site at Wilmersdorf in Apeldoorn.

Sure! Just send an email to technology@kiwa.nl and we will see if we can plan a visit. The options for a visit are of course dependent on availability and the corona measures applicable at the time of the visit.

A lot of information can be found at www.hydrogenexperiencecentre.com. If you do not find answers to all questions here, please email technology@kiwa.nl. We are happy to help you!

Yes, that would be great! Mail to technology@kiwa.nl and we will contact you as soon as possible for an appointment. We can also answer your questions by email.