This proposal is to undertake a BAT and FEED study and then pilot a gas compressor seal gas and venting gas recovery system. The solution could then be rolled out as ‘business as usual’ to help Gas Transmission work towards delivering the Company’s Net Zero carbon emissions objective. Three of the major compressor machinery OEMs all currently offer gas recompression, thermal oxidiser or ejector solutions to this issue, which are at varying levels of market readiness.
Benefits
Whilst the financial cost benefit of this project can be measured, it is important to note that this is not the sole rationale for undertaking this work. In order to achieve progress against critical objectives such as Net Zero, investment must be made where there is a real prospect of achieving environmental, sustainability, reputational and societal gain, even if the financial aspects of these metrics cannot be quantified. All initial calculations suggest that this project has the potential to deliver both a financial return, and key environmental, sustainability, reputational and societal benefits.
Stage 1 of CH4RGE Project has established that gas capture technologies are available and appropriate for installation on the NTS. This is fast developing market with suppliers pointing to accelerating demand for technical solutions particularly from Europe and North America. Since the project was first conceived, the political, corporate and regulatory direction now aligns even more closely to the CH4RGE objective of reducing methane emissions, particularly with the Net Zero Agenda and the RIIO-2 settlement. As a consequence, the primary outcome from this project is the justification for moving to a Stage 2 pilot project.
Lessons Learnt
The method used to collect information from the OEMs using an RFI was successful, in that all organisations invited provided a good response. However, a 1 month extension to the submission deadline was requested by OEMs (a 2 week extension was permitted to all parties) and follow up calls/emails were required to clarify details within their submission. The lesson learnt is to allow sufficient programme flexibility in order to improve the quality of information, which has in this case, increased overall confidence in the applicability of such techniques for the NTS and supports progression to CH4RGE stage 2. Where liaison with Operations and site based staff was successful, some inherent scepticism in both the usefulness and the methods employed by the venting tool was identified. Successful long term roll out or deployment of the tool should include for sufficient engagement and integration / consideration of the concerns voiced.
