Feasibility study into 2% hydrogen blending at St Fergus and H2 pipeline and hub at Aberdeen

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen transport and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
SGN

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 October 2018

01 July 2019

ENA months

£175,000

Energy

South East

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, SGN

Project Contact, National Grid Gas Transmission

A feasibility study that will examine the technical and commercial issues associated with hydrogen production using SMR at the St Fergus site, and the storage of the CO2 produced through the SMR process offshore utilising the proposed ACORN CCS reservoir, it will also assess possibility of blending and injecting the hydrogen produced (2% by volume) into the NTS at the same site, the aim being to understand the impact of hydrogen on the NTS, appliances and end users. SGN have completed a variety of projects that demonstrate the possibility of injecting different gas qualities into the NTS. The completed NIC project Opening up the Gas Market (OGM) successfully demonstrated the capability of widening the gas Wobbe Index (WI) within our network. This project proved that gas that meets the European Association for Streamlining of Energy Exchange (EASEE) gas specification, but sits outside of the characteristics specified within the Gas Safety Management Regulations (GSMR), can be distributed and utilised safely and efficiently within GB gas network.The outcomes from this project will be a number of reports that can be used to demonstrate the feasibility of injecting hydrogen into the transmission system, the commercial and technical viability of CCS using ACORN, a technoeconomic study into the viability of a H2 transmission pipeline from St Fergus to Aberdeen and the creation of a hydrogen hub at the latter. This project will aim to build upon existing knowledge of hydrogen generation, CO2 storage, H2 injection into the NTS and will build knowledge and understanding in the following areas; An examination and analysis of hydrogen production at St Fergus using SMR to enable detailed understanding of the complexities of design, construction and operation to include a costing exercise that will estimate CAPEX & OPEX associated with construction and operation. The project will also scrutinise and examine the issues surrounding the blending and injection of 2% Hydrogen into the NTS, it will identify technical issues associated with materials, cost in terms of operation and capacity reduction associated with the new blend. An investigation into the ACORN CCS proposal and its overall viability from a technoeconomic viewpoint and its applicability to this project. The feasibility of constructing a H2 pipeline from St Fergus to Aberdeen and the creation of a commercially viable hydrogen hubat Aberdeen. Impact on end users in terms of perception and cost The objectives of this project are to: Outline the possibility of using advanced SMR hydrogen production at St Fergus. And to discuss the technology and safety requirements for the transportation and storage of CO2 from SMR. Identify the planning consents and environmental permits that would be required. This will also outline the health and safety related aspects of plant development as well as identification of relevant key HSE regulations. Describe the introduction of hydrogen into the NTS and the implications for the wider gas network, including interconnectors, storage, Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) etc. Highlight the impact on the network, including materials, instrumentation, hazardous areas etc. It will also assess the end user impacts such as appliances, in particularly safety apparatus including oxygen depletion systems (ODS) and various other sensors. Development of an emission performance chart for hydrogen production.

The UK government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. The governments plans identify the need for low or no carbon heat as being essential for meet this target. SGN are involved in a variety of Environmental and low carbon projects. The findings from this project will provide beneficial information to ongoing SGN projects such as H100, as well as providing a greater understanding of the impact of hydrogen blending on the NTS and GDNs.The outcomes from this project will be a number of reports that can be used to demonstrate the feasibility of injecting hydrogen into the transmission system.

14/12/22