The aim of this project is to explore technologies to enable the existing gas transmission network to supply hydrogen as a low carbon energy source to heat customers with the most rapid deployment. The project directly addresses the need to work with partners on how deployment of low carbon heating solutions can be better coordinated to minimise gas network constraints at lowest economic cost.
The National Transmission System (NTS) in the UK supplies gas to distribution networks whom in turn supply gas to 23 million homes in the UK as their primary heat energy source. The network varies in age and material composition which leads to variation in its capability with Hydrogen. Some pipeline materials may be prone to hydrogen embrittlement reducing their lifetime, hydrogen barrier coatings applied to the internal surface of the pipelines between the gas flow and the metallic pipeline structure could prevent the need to replace the assets. In enabling more of the existing NTS network to be utilised for transporting hydrogen, a fuel with a third the energy content of methane, we are providing resilience and storage, rather than relying on transient production.
National Grid are working with BEIS and the other gas networks to determine the opportunity for using the gas network for heat in the UK, a decision that plans to be made in 2026. In order to maintain robust supply of hydrogen the high pressure transmission network will need to be available as both storage and a connection between green production sources which will be more variable due to their reliance on weather. This would allow reliable accesses to low carbon fuels for domestic heating, allowing conversion of gas boilers to be an economic option while retaining their existing heating systems.
This two-month £76k project led by the National Grid will provide evidence to support an application for a follow on Alpha phase project to design, develop, demonstrate and test the proposed technology solution.
Our project partners are experts in the field of pipelines (National Grid), metallic coatings (Ultima Forma Ltd) and composites (Warwick Manufacturing Group) which will give us the best understanding of the cost and benefits associated to protective coatings compared to replacement.
This technology has benefits for all hydrogen storage vessels and could be applied to several applications above and beyond onshore pipeline application.
VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj0ko_KmlEs&list=PLrMOhOrmeR6ktSag0RbT7zPNVn0p1P2f6&index=34
Problem Bring Solved
The hydrogen strategy released by the UK government in August 2021 stated that in order to support the net zero targets of 2050, by 2030 there is an ambition to produce 5GWs of low carbon hydrogen. This ambition to provide low carbon hydrogen as a part of a suite of net zero energy sources provides clear guidance to the UK gas networks to progress our hydrogen transportation capability. The national transmission system (NTS) provides a supply of gas to 40 power stations, large industrial users and gas distribution networks from natural gas terminals situated on the coast. The NTS provides a resilient supply of natural gas today and aims to provide the same capability for hydrogen, especially in light of the variability in green hydrogen production.
In the transition to Net Zero by 2050 we are looking at utilising the current high pressure NTS to provide hydrogen as a net zero alternative to natural gas to our consumers. The first step of this will be to provide a hydrogen backbone (Project Union) that links industrial clusters to terminals improving the resilience of hydrogen supply. The Project Union looks to repurpose around 25% of the current gas transmission pipelines approx. 2000km, reducing the cost to consumers of the transition. The hydrogen backbone could provide hydrogen to heat consumers through projects such as East Coat Hydrogen and National grid Gas is working alongside the other gas networks and BEIS through the Hydrogen Grid Research & Development (HGR&D) programme to determine the opportunity for heat.
Under the HGR&D programme, the Network Safety and Impacts Board (NSIB) are looking at the possible safety challenges and developing a plan to enable BEIS to conclude the plan for Heat by 2026. A key challenge to the repurposing of the NTS pipelines and assets is the impact of hydrogen on the metallic materials, mainly through the process of hydrogen embrittlement. The use of coatings on current assets could be a cost effective solution for preventing hydrogen embrittlement instead of replacement of the assets with hydrogen resistant materials. We must understand this opportunity now to enable us to develop the solutions and provide guidance to BEIS by 2026.
Heat consumers in the UK will benefit from this work through the elimination of the cost in transferring their heat supply to another medium and through reduction in billed cost for maintenance and replacement of gas assets.
Impacts and benefits
The benefits stated in the Discovery phase application are still valid. Indeed the current geopolitical situation has further strengthened the case to move away from natural gas to a more self-sustaining energy source such as locally produced green hydrogen.
The Discovery phase results indicate that barrier coatings have the potential to be effective in reducing the impact of hydrogen on existing National Transmission System (NTS) assets. Suitable coating types and deposition methods have been identified, which can be adapted for both offline and in-situ coating application.
The barrier coating technology could be commercially exploited for use worldwide for re-purposing pipelines for hydrogen service, thereby developing UK capability, skills, and competencies for net zero solutions and potentially encouraging inward investment into the UK hydrogen economy. The technology could also be further developed for use in other applications, for example CO2 transport for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and could also be used for new line pipe installations
Whilst the direct costs associated with re-purposing the NTS via barrier coatings could not be determined during the Discovery phase, the key cost drivers were established and compared to indicative costs for new asset installation. These comparisons showed clear opportunities for positive economic and environmental benefits to all end consumers including vulnerable customers. Moreover, the timescales required for re-purposing assets via barrier coatings versus replacement with new assets further reinforces the benefits case and ensures alignment with government priorities for net-zero by 2050.
Other hydrogen enabling benefits:
Hydrogen distributed through the gas pipeline network will facilitate the entry into the market of industrial and residential products that run off hydrogen (e.g. hydrogen-ready boilers) at a competitive price as the cost of transition to blended gases running in the network will be minimised, thereby reducing costs for consumers.
Substantial CO2 saving if the hydrogen is produced by renewable energy (green hydrogen), further reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels, and pulling demand for more renewables.
Utilising the existing NTS reduces the risk associated with transporting hydrogen above ground.
For new pipeline materials, the Discovery phase highlighted the following potential benefits of composites pipes over steel pipes with further study being needed to quantify these claims:
- less maintenance and no corrosion
- no hydrogen embrittlement risks
- lower carbon footprint
- lower weight and cheaper installation cost
- safer failure mode
- possibility to integrate conditioning monitoring through e.g. optical fibres (smart materials).
