Decarbonisation of Heat and the Role of ‘Green Gas’ in the United Kingdom

This paper looks at the possible role of ‘green gas’ in the decarbonisation of heat in the United Kingdom.  The option is under active discussion at the moment because of the UK’s rigorous carbon reduction targets and the growing realisation that there are problems with the ‘default’ option of electrifying heat. Green gas appears to be technically and economically feasible.  However, as the paper discusses, there are major practical and policy obstacles which make it unlikely that the government will commit itself to developing ‘green gas’ in the foreseeable future.