Addleshaw Goddard's Energy & Utilities practice has been appointed to advise SGN on its H100 Fife Project – a world first hydrogen system including a 100% hydrogen network.

Having advised SGN on its bid to Ofgem, the firm will now support on the delivery of SGN's most pioneering project to date, constructing a world-first green hydrogen heating network. 

H100 Fife in Scotland, will be the first 100% hydrogen to homes, zero carbon network in the world. The initial phase will heat 300 homes, and aims to demonstrate the use of 100% hydrogen for domestic heating derived from offshore wind.

The team led by Richard Goodfellow and David Shaw, will work alongside SGN’s in-house legal team to provide support to SGN on its ambitious plans that will see clean hydrogen gas produced at an electrolysis plant, which will be powered by a local offshore wind turbine. Construction is due to begin in 2021 and aims to be fully operational in 2022/2023 ahead of the heat policy decision expected in the mid-2020s.

Richard Goodfellow commented:"Both the Scottish and UK Government's ambitious targets of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2045 and 2050 will involve a step change in the way we produce and consume energy. With central heating producing a third of the UK’s greenhouse gas output, switching to hydrogen is one of the most sustainable ways of reducing our carbon footprint. Abundant in the natural world, hydrogen could power the next generation of gas appliances cleanly and efficiently and when powered by renewable energy, it becomes one the most effective and scalable way of providing heating and one that puts Scotland and the UK at the forefront of the clean energy revolution."

H100 Fife is a project of national significance, forming part of the Gas Goes Green programme, a partnership with SGN and the Energy Networks Association (ENA), National Grid, Cadent, Northern Gas Networks and Wales & West Utilities, who are working on a number of ground-breaking innovation projects aimed at developing safe, smart gas systems that deliver clean heating to homes and business. 

Richard Goodfellow concluded: "To be involved with a first of its kind project like H100 Fife is incredible. Delivering 100% hydrogen gas to homes, is one that puts us closer to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2045 in Scotland and 2050 in the UK and one we are proud to be involved with." 

A multi-disciplinary AG team will advise SGN on this large scale project, with AG's Innovation & Legal Technology team also developing a HighQ platform which will speed up the automation of standard forms as well as track advice and provide detailed reports on progress. 

AG's energy practice is a leader in its field advising integrated utility companies, independent developers, funds, financial institutions, electricity retailers and non-energy corporates on regulatory matters and transactions (M&A, construction, project development and finance).