Session: 09-02-02 Repurposing pipelines for H2 transportation

Paper Number: 133880

133880 - An Operators Experience in Developing a Technical Strategy for Repurposing the UK National Transmission System (NTS) to Transport Hydrogen 

Abstract: 

National Gas Transmission (NGT) own and operate the 7660 km National Transmission System (NTS) in the United Kingdom (UK), and have a responsibility to develop the green energy system for the future, while delivering the natural gas needs of today..

 

Through Project Union, NGT will facilitate an efficient route to net zero and a hydrogen economy by repurposing existing high pressure natural gas pipelines in the NTS to create a hydrogen ‘backbone’ for the UK. Project Union will build on and apply the results of FutureGrid and HyNTS research projects which are being undertaken by NGT. This 2000 km backbone of pipelines will connect hydrogen production centres to industrial, heat, transport, and power consumers. The UK hydrogen backbone will unlock energy security and export opportunities by connecting to storage and a wider European Hydrogen Backbone.

 

There is worldwide interest in repurposing existing pipeline transmission systems from transporting methane to hydrogen. Extensive research is being conducted to understand the implications that hydrogen may have on design, materials, integrity and the resulting safety considerations.

 

The effective application of the developing research requires a robust technical strategy for repurposing that is underpinned by comprehensive technical procedures which address: the data requirements, the technical assessments to be performed and their reporting requirements.

 

This paper will describe how NGT are building on the original research carried out to develop the UK National Transmission System and applying the good practice procedural requirements of uprating high pressure gas transmission systems beyond code limits and their successful application. This will use current national and international research on transporting hydrogen to repurpose this system, to revise their technical procedure requirements for hydrogen repurposing and the application of this procedure to the NGT national transmission system in the forthcoming years.

 

Keywords: Hydrogen, H2, Natural Gas blending, decarbonization, conversion, integrity, safety, 

 

Presenting Author: Gary Senior Pipeline Integrity Engineers Ltd

Presenting Author Biography: Gary has worked in the pipeline industry for over thirty years. Gary previously worked at the British Gas engineering research facility for 10 years, then was Lead Engineer for the 20,000 km UK gas transmission network, and for the past 20yrs as a Principal Consultant with Pipeline Integrity Engineers. Gary is a Chartered Engineer.

Authors:

Gary Senior Pipeline Integrity Engineers Ltd
Steven Johnstone National Gas Transmission
Jane Haswell Pipeline Integrity Engineers Ltd
Corinna Jones National Gas Transmission