AVK. At the Forefront of the Hydrogen Energy Revolution
AVK UK is an important partner in the UK’s planned switch to hydrogen energy over the coming years and decades. 12-03-2024
Hydrogen’s future role in the UK gas supply network
Hydrogen will play an important role in UK energy security and achieving net zero by 2050. Seen as a clean alternative to natural gas, hydrogen will be phased into our energy mix over the coming years and decades.
The latest government target, set out in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Hydrogen Strategy Delivery Update, published in December 2023, is for 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production by 2030. An interim ambition is for up to 1GW of electrolytic (carbon free production) and up to 1GW of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS)-enabled hydrogen production operational or in construction by 2025.
It is envisioned that plans to scale up hydrogen production, transport, and storage will create over 12,000 jobs and generate £11bn of investment across the UK by 2030.
AVK UK Hydrogen-ready valves and fittings
As a leading manufacturer of gas products and solutions, we have been supplying industry-leading valves and fittings to many of the country’s hydrogen-related projects for years. We are continually innovating and developing products to ensure AVK UK is at the forefront of the hydrogen energy revolution.
Our gas valve heritage spans back over 175 years and to this day there are some 120 year old Donkin gas valves still in service.
Our hydrogen-ready product are all approved to the relevant standards and designed and manufactured in the UK. Our portfolio includes:
AVK UK’s Key role in the UK’s hydrogen switch
Jon Briafield is AVK UK’s Gas Product Manager and a member of IGEM’s Hydrogen Committee. He has led the company’s involvement in many of the UK’s hydrogen-related projects.
He said: AVK UK has been closely involved in the UK’s hydrogen development, supplying a wide range of valves and fittings to projects across the country.
One of those was a demonstration gas network constructed by DNV at their Spadeadam Research and Development Centre in Cumbria, part of the H21 project led by Northern Gas Networks with collaboration from all other distribution network operators (DNO), National Grid and the HSE Science Division.
“AVK UK supplied 19 different variants and sizes of the Donkin gate valve (Series 555), over 30 valves in total and a number of additional Donkin ball valves (Series 460 and Series 455).”
More information on the project can be found in our case study.
“AVK UK also contributed to the Cadent/NGN HyDeploy project, which looked at the safe blending of hydrogen with natural gas into the existing network in North West and North East England. We were also active on the SGN H100 Fife project to build and operate a pilot public hydrogen network, a world-first green hydrogen-to-homes heating network on the Fife coast.
“We work closely with customers to ensure the valves and fittings used on hydrogen networks are as safe and effective as those used on the natural gas network. Years of close collaboration and research have provided valuable insights into the compatibility of our product portfolio and helped drive product development to ensure AVK UK is at the forefront of these advancements.
“We also continually strive to make our products safer and more sustainable, having recently installed a 600-panel solar PV system at our Bryan Donkin factory, reduced the embedded carbon of our latest generation Donkin 555 gate valves - the NEW Mark 4, and completed firesafe testing for natural gas and hydrogen service, ensuring safe gas pipeline isolation for above ground applications.”
Contact our hydrogen gas valve expert
If you wish to know more about our products, our involvement in hydrogen projects and or would like to visit our Chesterfield Manufacturing facility for a tour and training, contact our gas specialist, Jon Briafield. Call Jon on his mobile or write to Jon directly - simply click on the email icon.
We look forward to hearing from you.
