LONDON, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- With the aim to cut carbon emissions, a live pilot program to inject zero-carbon hydrogen into a gas network to heat homes and buildings at UK's Keele University is fully operational, the University announced on Thursday.

The so-called HyDeploy is a green energy trial at the university, which owns and operates its own private gas network. Under the program, up to 20 percent (by volume) of hydrogen is being injected into the university's existing natural gas network, feeding 100 homes and 30 faculty buildings.

Since Hydrogen is a zero carbon gas that when burned produces just heat and water, it is believed that the hydrogen blend could help reduce the amount of carbon emission.

The 20-percent volume blend means that customers can continue to use their gas supply as normal, without any changes being needed to gas appliances or pipe work, while still cutting carbon emissions, according to the university.

Heating for domestic properties and industry accounts for half of the UK's energy consumption and one third of its carbon emissions, with 83 percent of homes using gas to keep warm. If a 20-percent hydrogen blend was rolled out across the country it could save around 6 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year, the university said.

"HyDeploy is a pioneering landmark national demonstration project, using our campus as a genuine 'living laboratory' for low carbon and energy-efficient technologies. HyDeploy has the potential to be hugely impactful and lead to a step change in the reduction of carbon emissions associated with heat," said Professor Mark Ormerod, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost at Keele University. Enditem

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