Whitby residents
Image caption, Whitby residents Maria (l) and Margaret are worried about a new energy proposal

Maria Morgan woke up thinking about it. We're animals.

Maria is working to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.

She lives in a house that is one of 2,000 that will have its gas turned off.

Pure hydrogen will flow through its pipes if the plan is approved. Unlike natural gas, hydrogen doesn't produce the climate warming gas CO2 when burned.

The government wants to phase out natural gas boilers from the year 2035 in order to fight climate change.

With 23 million homes connected to the gas grid, it will be difficult to move them to cleaner forms of energy.

Redcar in the north-eastern part of England has been named as a candidate to convert to hydrogen. One of them will become the UK's firsthydrogen village.

Is hydrogen safe. Even though hydrogen is more dangerous than natural gas, it can be.

Hydrogen cooker
Image caption, Hydrogen cookers would make use of the existing natural gas network of pipes

It is not known how green the village will be. More than 99% of the world's supply is made from fossil fuels, which creates CO2 emissions.

Some people in the area feel that they're being forced to participate in a dangerous experiment. Margaret is sitting next to Maria on the sofa.

It's terrible." There is stress. That is the only thing being discussed in my house.

Stephen and his wife feel likelab rats.

There will be no more natural gas in the area if the trial goes forward. All the new appliances will be free of charge if residents choose to convert their homes to hydrogen or electric with a heat pump.

The government and the gas companies agree that residents are unnecessarily concerned about safety. The risk is similar to that of natural gas due to the fact that hydrogen is more dangerous.

The professor at the University of Strathclyde is an expert in hydrogen.

He asked, "Would you buy a car from a salesman who said, 'This car will crash more frequently but because of the safety features, we will be just as safe'?" "No, you wouldn't do it."

For the last few months, representatives from British Gas and Cadent have been visiting homes in the area to assess their readiness for hydrogen and address any concerns. Residents will be supplied with hydrogen at the same price as natural gas for a two-year trial.

Whitby resident Phil Garnett
Image caption, Phil Garnett is ready to have his home converted to using hydrogen

Phil Garnett is excited by the prospect of new and free appliances, but also about doing something to benefit the environment.

He says that they are trying to move towards a cleaner energy source. I'm in favor of it.

At the moment it burns, hydrogen is cleaner and more eco-friendly than regular gasoline. The production of hydrogen is dependent on how much renewable energy is used.

It's less efficient to use hydrogen made from renewable electricity to heat buildings than it is to use electricity.

According to Dr Jan Rosenow, an energy expert and director of European programs at the Regulatory Assistance Project, heating a home with this "green" hydrogen uses five or six times more electricity than using the same renewable electricity to drive a heat pump.

He says that the evidence shows that it's not a good idea.

Gas suppliers and distributors are trying to hold onto their market share as the UK moves away from natural gas, according to Mr Rosenow.

Whitby Hydrogen Experience Centre
Image caption, Cadent's Marc Clarke at Whitby's Hydrogen Experience Centre

The Redcar project is in the consultation phase. TheHydrogen Experience Centre will give residents a chance to see what the future holds.

There are three things on display. The hydrogen cooker and fire are still in the prototype stage, but you can buy a hydrogen ready boiler now.

British Gas is one of the main supporters of the proposal.

He says that customers like to heat their homes with gas boilers.

Hydrogen uses the same appliances, but it has a different gas flow through it.

Kate Grannell set up a Facebook page to help her neighbours. She has been asking the gas companies questions.

She says that at the beginning they had about 140 questions. We still haven't had answers to those questions.

What happens after two years of trial? Will they be brought back to natural gas? If hydrogen costs more, what do you think? How might it affect house prices and how much will it cost them?

Resident Kate Grannell
Image caption, Kate Grannell has been coordinating residents' responses on a Facebook page

Ms Grannell says that they are not being asked if they can use her home for an experiment.

There is a complicated question of consent. The government has told the gas companies to include evidence of how they consulted with residents in their proposals. The surveys were commissioned by Cadent.

Kate and other people wanted a straight vote on the proposal.

A vote won't be the real world according to Mr. Clarke. On a certain day, we are going to have to make a decision about heating technology. The decision is coming for all of us in the near future, even though this project is bringing it to life right now.

The government is expected to make a decision on the switch to pure hydrogen later in the year.

It will be difficult for residents to object further if the green light is given. Gas distributors would have the power to enter homes in order to enforce the transfer away from natural gas under the new legislation.

This would only be used as a last resort and people who don't want hydrogen should use electric heating.

You can follow him on social media.

  • Renewable energy
  • Carbon neutrality