Learnings

Outcomes

Network hydrogen flows that could deliver the same energy via similarly sized pipeline infrastructure will result in pipeline pressure losses and pressure at the user’s connection, which although higher, are similar to the present supply of energy as natural gas.

Hydraulic modelling should be carried out to confirm the impact of hydrogen flows and velocities for flexible gas generation consumption, particularly within the context and consideration of 1-in-20 peak flows for the demand supplied by the given network section. Gas velocities may be acceptable from the risk of erosion and should be assessed on a case-by-case. This should be supported by erosion risk mitigation measures.

OEMs are currently updating their offering to ensure that their equipment can be fired with hydrogen. There are currently no commercial applications of hydrogen fired technology given the current cost of hydrogen fuel. Development of the technology particularly applied for flexible gas generation should be monitored, particularly with more detailed feedback from OEMs including gas engines and gas turbines but also fuel cell generators. This could potentially be best achieved by gas network operators maintaining close relationships with the flexible generator site operators.

Lessons Learnt

This project was undertaken at a desktop level, with assumptions made around the behaviour of natural gas immediately upstream of flexible power generation assets. Whilst desktop modelling was undertaken, the findings of the work showed that further analysis should be undertaken using hydraulic modelling methods – such as through the use of Synergi. Whilst Synergi for methane was widely established at the time of this report, Synergi for hydrogen is now commonplace across the networks and should be deployed in future work of this kind.

To progress the analysis further, laboratory tests could be also undertaken to understand the behaviour of rapid network decompression due to the deployment of hydrogen-ready flexible generation sites. If coordinated with OEM’s, this work could accelerate the deliverability of distributed hydrogen power generation at scale.