A town’s crematorium could be the first in the world to be powered by hydrogen.

If tests are successful, cremator manufacturer DFW Europe will bring the pioneering hydrogen technology over to trial at Worthing crematorium as early as next spring.

Total project funding of £1,168,500 for the programme has been awarded through the £55m Industrial Fuel Switching Competition, as part of the £1bn Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP).

NZIP provides backing for innovative low-carbon technologies and infrastructure. Decreasing the costs of decarbonisation, the portfolio will help enable the UK to end its contribution to climate change.

Cremation is an energy intensive process currently reliant on natural gas, and the crematorium has the largest carbon footprint of any council site.

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The proposed new process will use green hydrogen, which is produced using electricity from renewable sources. Unlike natural gas, hydrogen does notgive off carbon emissions when it is burnt. Green hydrogen is also produced without any carbon emissions. 

The Worthing HyCrem programme is a joint effort, with FT Pipeline Systems acting as lead partner to Worthing Borough Council. The University of Brighton, DFW Europe, Net Zero Associates, Ricardo AEA and GeoPura are also all involved with the project.

By 2030, Worthing Borough Council said it aims to be a carbon neutral local authority and by 2045 a carbon neutral town.