British gas distribution company SGN has appointed Altrad Babcock as the main works contractor for the project that is said to be the ‘world’s first’ 100% green hydrogen-to-homes zero carbon network.

A 7MW wind turbine, owned and operated by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult in Fife Energy Park, will supply renewable electricity for  the hydrogen production and storage site.

H100 will harness renewable electricity from the turbine, which will be fed into two alkaline electrolysers totalling 5MW, allowing the delivery of up to 2,093kg of green hydrogen per day.

Once produced, hydrogen will be stored in six purpose-built pressure vessels to prevent supply being disrupted during cold weather conditions.

Before being delivered to participating homes via a new gas network, the hydrogen will be reduced in pressure with a pressure reduction station (PRS). The hydrogen will also be odourised to ensure it has the same distinctive smell as natural gas.

Altrad Babcock will be responsible for building and integrating key elements of the site, designed by engineering consultancy Arup.

Up to 300 homes can choose to opt-in to be part of H100.

Mark Wild OBE, SGN CEO, said, “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 delivery green hydrogen into homes for the first time.

“Altrad Babcock aims to begin site development in the coming months, having already started work on procurement.”

Proposals for the H100 Fife project were first approved in 2020, by energy regulator Ofgem, after it passed the initial screening submission process for Ofgem’s annual Network Innovation Competition.

Read more: SGN seeking world first green hydrogen network

David Cornforth, Altrad Babcock Vice-President ofMajor Projects, 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.

“This first of a kind project will demonstrate the practicality of bringing green hydrogen 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.”