Learnings

Outcomes

Key Outcomes of the project 

1.     The Functional Specification 

The Functional specification as drafted includes all known fundamental principles to provide a basis of design for future hydrogen blending-to-grid facilities. To summarise the document includes details of: 

A.    PRINCIPLES

1.     FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

2.     GAS QUALITY MEASUREMENT RISK ASSESSMENT

3.     PROVISIONS OF THE HYDROGEN TRANSPORTER

4.     PROVISIONS OF THE DELIVERY FACILITY OPERATOR

5.     PROVISIONS OF THE GAS TRANSPORTER 

B.    CONTRACTUAL FRAMEWORK, ASSET OWNERSHIP AND OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY

6.     CONTRACTUAL FRAMEWORK

7.     ASSET OWNERSHIP MODELS

8.     MINIMUM, MAXIMUM, & MIXED MODELS

C.    FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

9.     HYDROGEN PRESSURE REGULATION AND METERING

10.  ACCURACY

11.  HYDROGEN/GROSS CALORIFIC VALUE CONTROL

12.  HYDROGEN SUPPLY

13.  COMINGLED POINT

14.  REMOTELY OPERATED VALVE

15.  ODORANT INJECTION

16.  FLOW WEIGHTED AAVERAGE CALORIFIC VALUE FUNCTIONALITY

17.  GAS QUALITY AND SUPERVISORY SYSTEM

18.  REMOTE MONITORING UNIT

D.    DESIGN APPROVAL

E.    TESTING

F.    COMMISSIONING AND INITIAL VALIDATION

G.    OPERATION

H.    MAINTENANCE AND PERIODIC VALIDATION/CALIBRATION

2.     Blending Technology Assessment 

To support the development of the functional specification a technology assessment of blending equipment was undertaken to determine technology readiness levels available on the market, distances required to ensure a homogeneous blend could be achieved and indicative costs. 

A number of solutions from different manufacturers were evaluated and CfD modelling was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the blend to determine pipe distance requirements. The outcome of which, has indicated that homogeneous blending should be achievable within 10 pipe diameters of the mixing device, meaning that the blending facility can be quite compact and sited on the same skid if required. 

3.     Case Study Design

The case study design has indicated that a single injection skid unit could be produced to incorporate the requirements of the functional specification, minimising space, cost and complexity to install within the network. Note:  single skid is not mandatory, but could prove efficient in some scenarios. 

Lessons Learnt

Initial contracting was a challenge due to the RIIO 2 ‘GIGG’ collaboration agreement not being available at the time of project initiation. This took time to work through, delaying the start of the project. Lessons learned have been taken forward from this for other projects, and a new agreement has been developed and signed off by all networks for future use. 

Final reporting also presented challenges due to facilitating the appropriate time for all networks to review and agree the final outputs. A satisfactory outcome was achieved, however took longer than expected. Stronger  governance and structure is required where multiple contracting parties are involved in collaboration agreements going forward.