Capacity to blend low-carbon hydrogen into natural gas networks could grow more than tenfold by 2024 in a trend led largely by Europe, according to IEA data on projects which are under construction or have reached financial investment decisions.

Plans for 2bn m³ of hydrogen grid injection capacity have emerged for the period 2020-2024, with 0.5bn m³ under development and 0.04bn m³ in operation, of which Germany accounts for the dominant share, the IEA says.

Several hydrogen blending pilot projects have been undertaken in recent years, including in France, Italy and the UK.

"Hydrogen can be blended at rates between 2pc and 10pc by volume without requiring substantial retrofitting" IEA

Australia’s first pilot project was launched in May 2021. Canada and California are set to launch their first pilot projects later in 2021.

Low-carbon hydrogen blending capacity has more than quadrupled since 2013 but volumes remain limited, with 1-2pc of low-carbon hydrogen production fed into gas grids.

But the level of hydrogen blending into gas networks can be constrained by its reaction with pipeline steel, which can be embrittled by exposure to hydrogen, the IEA says.

“Depending on the characteristics of the gas transmission system, hydrogen can be blended at rates between 2pc and 10pc by volume without requiring substantial retrofitting,” the IEA says.

“The hydrogen tolerance of polymer-based distribution networks is typically greater, allowing blending of hydrogen up to 20pc by volume.”

Full conversion

The IEA strikes a more cautious note on the pace of natural gas pipeline conversions to 100pc hydrogen.

“Gas-to-hydrogen pipeline conversions are expected to gradually take off in the medium term, mainly in Europe,” it says.

Dutch gas grid operator Gasunie converted the first gas pipeline fully to hydrogen in the Netherlands in November 2018, and several pilot projects are under consideration in Germany and France.

Based on project submissions from European gas network operators, 500km of gas pipelines could be converted to hydrogen by 2024, according to industry group the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas.

Dutch natural gas grid operator Gasunie plans to start work in the autumn on a €1.5bn ($1.8bn) national hydrogen pipeline network after the government last week formally asked it to go ahead.

2bn m³– Planned blending capacity

The Dutch network should be in place by 2027 and will consist of 85pc repurposed natural gas lines, supplemented by new ones specifically built for hydrogen. The network will have a capacity of 10GW, equal to 25pc of the total energy consumption of Dutch industry, Gasunie says.

Gasunie is a member of the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB), a group of 23 European natural gas grid operators lobbying for extensive use of existing pipelines to transport hydrogen across the continent. The EHB puts the cost of developing a Europe-wide hydrogen network by 2040 at €43-81bn, with repurposed gas lines accounting for 69pc of the capacity.

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Author: Stuart Penson