In hot seat for hydrogen homes plan

IT'S billed by the Government as a way of exploring whether hydrogen - which doesn't release harmful carbon dioxide when burned - could become a low-carbon alternative to natural gas for heating our homes.

- ROB PARSONS

And for months now residents in Redcar on Teesside and the Whitby area of Ellesmere Port in Cheshire have been waiting to hear which of the areas will host the UK's first 'hydrogen village, where 2,000 homes will be supplied with hydrogen as part of the 'net zero' effort.

But in a move seen by some as a blow for the plans to use hydrogen in the country's heating networks, Whitby was this week withdrawn from contention. Government Minister Lord Callanan tweeted: "After listening to the views of residents, it's clear that there is no strong local support." The decision which comes amid anger and concern from many residents who even placed signs in their front windows opposing the idea - means the Redcar scheme set up by Northern Gas Networks (NGN) is now likely to get the nod.