DNV,
the independent energy expert and assurance provider
has been engaged to provide the evidence required to demonstrate the safe use
and conversion of the local
transmission systems (LTS) high pressure pipelines for transporting 100%
hydrogen. The gas distribution company SGN manages around 3,100km of the
LTS pipelines in the UK and is
leading this project working in collaboration with the other UK gas networks.
The
LTS is owned and operated by gas distribution networks. These are the pipelines
that connect the high-pressure National Transmission System (NTS) with the
lower pressure tiers. These pipelines are considered the ‘backbone’ of the energy network,
currently delivering gas from NTS offtakes to towns and cities across the
country.
Angus
McIntosh, Director of Energy Futures, SGN says “Repurposing the UK’s extensive
gas networks to transport hydrogen offers an exciting opportunity to deliver
deep decarbonisation of the energy system. We’re delighted to be working with
DNV to undertake offsite testing at their Spadeadam facility. This testing is a
key component of our overall programme and will provide critical evidence to
support our live demonstration of a conversion of a 30km natural gas pipeline
to hydrogen. The evidence and outcomes will be representative and scalable to
all local transmission assets in the UK, over 11000km of pipeline assets and
associated plant.”
DNV
will be providing key safety and operational evidence by carrying out a series
of offline tests for this project at their remote research facility in Cumbria,
Northern England. The programme of work will demonstrate hot working on
hydrogen pipelines, delayed ignition and over pressure tests, burst and fatigue
tests as well as exploring the hydrogen compatibility of existing pipeline
connections and fittings. As the project progresses, DNV will also
support a live network SGN trial by investigating the measurement and
monitoring of a hydrogen linepack, (the
volume of gas that can be
"stored" in a gas pipeline), on a section of the local
transmission network.
Hari
Vamadevan, Regional Director UK & Ireland, Energy Systems at DNV says “In the UK’s recently published
Energy Security Strategy, hydrogen is referred to as a super-fuel. The UK is intending to lead the way in developing hydrogen as a key
domestic energy carrier, indeed recently doubling their ambition to 10GW of low
carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. The existing infrastructure is in
place, and SGN is making a huge effort to accelerate the UK’s progress towards net zero.”
DNV
is uniquely placed to host the offline LTS Futures trial at their world-leading
research facility alongside the FutureGrid project for National Grid Gas and
the H21 project for Northern Gas Networks. DNV has demonstrated its
commitment to energy transition in general and research into hydrogen in
particular by investing in the construction of the HyStreet terrace of
houses –to demonstrate how hydrogen can be safely distributed for
heating and cooking in typical British homes.