Potentially misleading boiler marketing over the use of hydrogen removed after Sky News investigation.
A Sky News investigation into potentially misleading and confusing boiler marketing involving the use of hydrogen in home heating has prompted several companies to remove statements about the gas from their websites.
It comes as the chief executive of the UK’s independent climate change committee told Sky News that “no one should be installing a gas boiler thinking that hydrogen is a sure thing” or a way of future-proofing their home.
Hydrogen, which burns without emitting carbon dioxide, is likely to play a significant role in decarbonising heavy industry and hitting net zero targets, but the government has said its potential use in residential properties won’t be decided until 2026.
Despite this uncertainty, Sky News has found several companies making confusing and potentially misleading claims about hydrogen as part of the sales process for standard gas boilers.
The website for online retailer Boiler Central contained a video in which an adviser says:
With the push towards a greener future, most new boilers are now having the hydrogen ready compatibility built into them, helping not only future-proof your investment of a new boiler, but ensuring your energy bills and carbon footprint remain as low as possible.
But boilers that could in theory accept a blend of up to 23% hydrogen are not new – in fact this capability has been required by law since 1996.
Conversely, boilers that are ready to burn 100% hydrogen aren’t available to buy yet.
In addition, hydrogen can also be more expensive than gas, with a recent assessment by energy analysts Cornwall Insight suggesting it could be up to 70% more expensive to run a home on 100% hydrogen fuel.
And although hydrogen burns cleanly, it can be carbon-intensive to make, depending on the production technique.
A recent report by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee said that although there are plans in place to expand clean or “green” hydrogen production it noted that “currently in the UK, hydrogen is overwhelmingly produced from fossil-fuel intensive processes – so-called ‘grey hydrogen'”.
‘We’ve changed the content’
Boiler Central’s director James Elston denied misleading customers but accepted the company’s content could have been clearer.
In an interview, he told Sky News that Boiler Central had made changes to its website.
James Elston, Boiler Central’s director said:
What we’ve looked at is just tidying up some of the generalisations.
“We’re saying a new boiler is more efficient than an old, it can save you money and it can save you on your carbon footprint.
“Those are all true – true statements.
“Linking it directly to hydrogen is where we’ve separated… where we’ve changed the content.”
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
Potentially misleading boiler marketing over the use of hydrogen removed after Sky News investigation, September 13, 2023
