Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_SGN0105 | |
| Title | 100% Hydrogen | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen storage) 50%; Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen transport and distribution) 50%; |
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| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 25%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (General Engineering and Mineral & Mining Engineering) 75%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given SGN |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 January 2017 | |
| End Date | 01 July 2018 | |
| Duration | 18 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £2,847,000 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Technical Consultancy | |
| Region | South East | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , SGN (100.000%) |
| Web Site | http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_SGN0105 |
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| Objectives | The objectives of this feasibility study are to: - Evaluate the suitability of sites and requirements for a 100% Hydrogen demonstration project. - Select the most practical and cost effective site for development - Complete the initial design of the site. - Carry out on site or off site testing of aspects supporting the quantification of risk. The project will be deemed to be successful if the following outcomes are achieved: - Detailed evidence supporting selection of most suitable and cost effective site for Hydrogen demonstration project. - Quantitative and qualitative risk assessment for 100% Hydrogen network - Stimulation of Hydrogen supply chain - Initial conceptual design of the site(s) - Plans for future commercial viability - Commercial and regulatory methodology for demonstration - Cost definition for demonstration and CBA compared to other sites - Roadmap to 100% Hydrogen network demonstration - Detailed report for publication | |
| Abstract | The United Kingdom (UK) government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. The government’s plans identify the need for low or no carbon heat as essential to meet this target. Initially decarbonised electricity was identified as the primary means of decarbonisation, however, this has since been largely discounted due to the potentially enormous cost of network reinforcement and the electricity networks’ limitations in meeting seasonal and diurnal swings in demand. The UK has an advanced and efficient gas network that currently supplies the energy to heat 82% of the UK’s buildings and also supplies the vast majority of the UK’s industrial heat. The demand for heat is highly variable with both seasonal and diurnal swings. The gas network delivers 6-7 times more of the UK’s peak energy than the electricity network. The gas network therefore has a major role to play in the journey to decarbonisation. Reducing and eliminating carbon can be done in a number of ways in the short, medium and long term. In the short term by substituting bio fuels such as bio-methane for natural gas and by widening the range of gases that the networks can accommodate without processing. In the medium term by blending zero carbon gas such as Hydrogen or in the long term by removing carbon completely and using Hydrogen as the vector. SGN and the other GB gas distribution networks have and are continuing to undertake projects to support the future of energy in the UK. This feasibility study will look to build on the prior work and develop site specific evidence in support of a future physical demonstration of a 100% Hydrogen network. The intended demonstration should be small scale, but sufficiently representative to draw conclusions from the evidence is provides. If the feasibility study is successful, it will seek Network Innovation Competition (NIC) and/or other funding in future years. This project will aim to research and evaluate the feasibility of the construction and demonstration of a 100% Hydrogen distribution network. The construction of a 100% Hydrogen equivalent of a gas distribution network will be a ‘first of a kind’. This feasibility study will consider the whole gas supply chain, including transportation, storage, injection, distribution and utilisation. Each one of these topics (below) will have various strands and packages of work within the overall feasibility study, which ultimately will seek to identify how each aspect will be tested, evidenced and addressed during a field trial demonstration. Parallel site feasibility studiesUp to three sites will be considered for the demonstration project. Each site evaluated will have a series of go/no go stage gates. This is considered best practice for large scale construction projects such as this. For each site: - Potential customer and stakeholder engagement will be carried out to ensure participation, support and flexibility for the potential demonstration project. - The site specific design and pricing for construction of new Hydrogen storage, injection facilities, pressure reduction and a Polyethylene (PE) distribution network will be undertaken. - Establish and design for any requirements for planning consent. - Identification of an on or off-site test bed where destructive and non-destructive testing of individual elements will take place. - Establish an interim Hydrogensupply for the demonstration project, with consideration of the longer term viability of the site. - Develop theoretical models for Hydrogen distribution and storage - Carry out a Quantitative Risk Assessment - Identify evidence requirements from the demonstration project in order to build a scalable Quantitative Risk Assessment for larger Hydrogen networks - Develop site specific emergency plans, controls and process - Suitability and representativeness of premises/customers for Hydrogen appliances/applications - Comparative cost assessment Regulatory Considerations for development of Hydrogen Infrastructure and applications - Detailed review of prior art both in the UK, Europe and overseas. - Risk assessment and gap analysis against all existing legislation, British, European and Industry standards. - Engagement with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and other appropriate regulatory bodies - Evaluation of the site specific designs for construction of new Hydrogen storage, injection facilities, pressure reduction and a PE distribution network should be sufficiently developed to establish any necessary planning consent. - Evaluation and analysis of billing and commercial arrangements. Proposal to be tested by demonstration project. Off-site/on site testing zone (during feasibility study) - 100% Hydrogen assessment of GB gas distribution network features, fittings and materials (using actual samples from the GB gas network) - Evidence Hydrogen concentration thresholds for deflagration vs detonation - Carry out applied research into odourant requirements - Carry out applied research into pressure reduction and compression - Carry out appliance and construction material testing (for demonstration project) - Validate meter specification, design, accuracy and operation - Validate appliance/application specification, design, accuracy and operation - Validate design and specification of internal pipework Knowledge dissemination - 6 monthly and final report - Press release - Industry presentations - Gas Quality Standard Working Group via IGEM (or other group as agreed) - Feasibility study launch - Academic partnership papers Enduring commercial viability The selected demonstration site should be scalable and consider ongoing running costs such as maintenance, training of operatives, compliance, continued supply of renewable Hydrogen or Carbon Capture, and any subsidies that may apply. This study seeks to assess the technical and practical viability of constructing and operating a 100% Hydrogen distribution network. At the end of the feasibility study (or at a point where the optimal demonstration site is evident), a site will be selected. The selected site and associated evidence will form the basis for a larger demonstration project that will require more significant funding, which will be sought from both the NIC and other sources.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 23/03/18 | |
