Penspen, a leading international energy consultancy dedicated to improving access to secure and sustainable energy for communities worldwide, is expanding its energy transition project portfolio with the award of a hydrogen blending contract from Latvian natural gas operator, Conexus Baltic Grid.
Under this new contract, Penspen’s integrity team in the UK will assess the feasibility of introducing hydrogen blends into Conexus’ existing natural gas pipeline network, in alignment with industry international and national codes and regulations, to help optimise existing gas infrastructure in Latvia for a cleaner energy future.
Leveraging its global expertise in hydrogen integration and pipeline safety, Penspen will conduct studies to assess and provide recommendations to mitigate the effects of hydrogen on pipeline steel properties, as well as examine the potential interactions with existing defects, to ensure structural integrity and ongoing safe operations under blended conditions.
Penspen will provide essential insights to support Conexus’ safe and sustainable transition to hydrogen and contribution to global decarbonisation efforts.
Ali Alani, director of asset integrity at Penspen, commented: “We are very pleased to be awarded this project and excited to be working with Conexus Baltic Grid.
"The project scope aligns well with our materials engineering and pipeline analysis core strengths as well as our extensive knowledge of pipes from that age and region. This is a good addition to our growing H2 pipeline repurposing track record.”
Rolands Trenko, project manager at Conexus Baltic Grid, added: “I’m thrilled to collaborate on this project with a partner who brings such specialised expertise in materials engineering and pipeline analysis.
"The knowledge and experience Penspen have with pipelines of this age and region will be invaluable as we work to adapt our infrastructure for hydrogen mix.
"Together, we’re setting a strong foundation for a sustainable energy future and furthering the transition to cleaner energy sources. I look forward to achieving great results together!”
For more than seven decades, Penspen has supported energy operators around the world to improve access to lower carbon fuels, and by extending the life of existing infrastructure, we continue to deliver cleaner energy to communities across the globe.
Its engineering consultancy services utilise its extensive experience in the delivery of thousands of hydrocarbon projects to inform the development of future fuels infrastructure, including repurposing existing infrastructure for hydrogen and CO2 transportation and processing.