Rinnai committed significant resources into this new appliance technology and created a supremely efficient-functioning continuous flow hot water system fuelled by 100% hydrogen.
In November last year the company announced the release of its “Rinnai Innovation Manifesto 2050”, describing its commitment to global carbon neutrality. ‘As a company that produces appliances that require fossil fuels, Rinnai feels a deep sense of responsibility to embrace all aspects of global decarbonisation,’ said a spokesman for the company.
Current UK Rinnai product ranges - both domestic and commercial - are ‘hydrogen blends ready’ - meaning that units will accept the proposed 20% hydrogen/natural gas blend. Rinnai UK is one of the first manufacturers display the I2HY20 gas category certificate for all its products.
‘If we can develop a 100% hydrogen combustion technology that emits no CO2 at all, we can help achieve carbon neutrality. Rinnai’s 100% hydrogen combustion water heater models are fully able to contribute significantly towards cutting emissions.
‘An adoption of global infrastructural modifications is a prerequisite for hydrogen-burning water heaters to become a valid global decarbonizing technology. Major international economies are strategizing measures that focus on introducing clean and domestically sustainable sources of energy, such as renewables and hydrogen into separate energy mixes before or around 2050,’ added the company spokesman.
In the UK HyNet Northwest, a project trialling hydrogen distribution and supply to both industry and residential sites, has Cadent as a lead partner. Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network. All waymark reports show that the trial is progressing up to and beyond expectations. And overseas - Australia’s major energy companies are implementing a series of demonstration tests using 100% hydrogen water heaters in residential applications throughout and beyond October 2022. Rinnai will also take part in these tests in the hope that over 100 years of experience can assist in producing technology that accepts clean energy.
For Rinnai UK Chris Goggin, Operations Director, comments, ‘We are delighted to see this development coming to market after a period of intense research and design work conducted on a global scale. The product quality of our range of products, coupled with service excellence to all customers, is and always will be our first priority. We have responded to the need for decarbonisation by re-designing those parts of our products that warranted it – and we have recognised the fact that all fuels will factor in the future. Hence, we have launched our H3 initiative of Hydrogen, Hybrid and Heat Pump so that our customers have the best possible choices to assist them maximise their own energy efficiency programmes.’
Rinnai plans to continue researching and developing next generation decarbonising technology. Rinnai is determined to introduce combustion technology that encourages a greater sense of customer convenience and clean air quality.
