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UK has introduced zero-carbon hydrogen into its gas network for the first time by using 20% hydrogen and natural gas blend to heat 100 homes and 30 faculty buildings at Keele University in Staffordshire.

The working principle is not that complex. First, hydrogen is captured using an electrolyser, which runs electricity through water to split it back into hydrogen and oxygen and this can then be injected into existing modern gas networks, with no need for customers to change their pipework.

Keele University was chosen as an ideal location for testing purposes, because it owns and operates a private gas network that can be isolated from the main network.

We are bombarded with different energy savings tips, practically on daily basis. There is this and that, ranging from possible energy saving solutions such as the ones offered from This website, as well as calculating the value of energy savings, applications used in the process and tools or software used in the process.

Difference between energy efficiency and energy saving

Before we go any further we must first make the difference between terms „energy savings „ and energy efficiency because these two are not synonyms as some people think they are. The simplest energy efficiency definition would be efficient use of energy by using less energy to perform the same task.

On the other hand, energy savings is somewhat different and refers primarily to active power savings and thus includes the amount (quantity) of savings related to the working time and load profile, cost of electricity (kWh), cost of the product & installation. Since there are so many factors involved, energy saving has no fix value.

Hydropower, as many of you already know, has the very long history of use. This renewable energy source generates electricity in many countries of the world.

In fact, hydropower currently accounts for two thirds of the electricity generated from renewable energy sources worldwide, and is therefore touted by many as the most important renewable energy source.

Thousands of new hydroelectric power plants are either planned or being constructed across the world. In the wake of ongoing climate change one has to wonder whether this is positive or negative from the environmental point of view.

The general opinion is that the hydropower is environmentally friendly source of energy and therefore much "cleaner" option than using fossil fuels.

When you read various information on solar panels, there is a something of a common belief that solar panels need to last for more than 20 years in order to produce economic benefits for those who decide to install them.

The average lifespan of solar panel is said to be 20+ years so in correlation with the economic viability you should be OK on the long run.

The recent study on solar panels by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado argues that even the lifespan of 15, or even 10 years, could prove to be economically viable.

The lead author of this study Vladimir Bulović, professor of electrical engineering and computer science says that "many promising new technologies stuck on the sidelines, as conventional crystalline silicon technologies overwhelmingly dominate the commercial solar marketplace."

There is plenty of talk about different renewable energy sources as the world looks to move away from fossil fuels. The growing impact of climate change as the direct consequence of fossil fuel burning is making the world consider other, more environmentally friendly energy sources. Biomass is one of the most talked about renewable energy sources and is getting a lot of attention in many countries, developed as well as the developing ones.

The advantages of using biomass:

-Biomass is a renewable source of energy meaning it cannot be depleted like this is the case with fossil fuels. Plants that are used for biomass production can be re-grown time and time again on the same piece of land.

 -Fossil fuels are not only doing serious damage to our environment, they also have negative economic and social impact regarding our energy independence and our energy security. For instance, our dependence on oil is forcing us to an expensive foreign fuel import. If we were to use more biomass this would improve our energy security and energy independence, together with many environmental benefits that go along.