go to top scroll for more

Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_NGGT0176
Title	HyNTS - Hydrogen Fuel Gas for NTS Compressors
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen production) 25%; Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen storage) 25%; Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen transport and distribution) 25%; Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Other infrastructure and systems R&D) 25%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given National Grid Gas Transmission
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 September 2021
End Date	31 July 2022
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£783,874
Industrial Sectors	Energy
Region	London
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , National Grid Gas Transmission (100.000%)
Web Site	https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_NGGT0176
Objectives	The project will undertake a feasibility study on an example NTS compressor Station that will examine the safety, environmental, technical, operational and economic issues in blending hydrogen/methane for combustion in a gas turbine (GT) driving NTS compression. The project also determines how to establish an innovative green hydrogen production, storage and supply facility to fuel the SGT-A20 GTs on varying blends of hydrogen. This strategic study is preparatory work ahead of a demonstration of local hydrogen supply and use in a real-life example NTS Compressor station. This in turn would precede the adoption of hydrogen blending in compressors as business as usual within the NTS. Higher hydrogen concentrations may be achieved in the GTs in advance of similar blends being attained within the transmission pipes themselves. As such, the project is by its nature strategic and innovative having the potential to de-risk the hydrogen transition of GT compression operations and bring forward CO2 and NOx reductions.The focus of the study will be on the SGT-A20 GTs, (of which there are 29 across the current compressor stations), a robust and simple Gas Turbine. Prior work indicates they can run material blends of hydrogen and methane with limited adaptation. The SGT-A20 GTs present a lower operational and financial risk for a demonstrator than would be the case if trials were conducted on more modern GTs, having low capital value in NGGTs books versus say one of its modern Siemens SGT range which and more complex and higher value. The consequences of unreliability are therefore less with the SGT-A20 compared to more modern GTs.The deliverables from this study will take the form of a report which, if the concept proves feasible, will support future project stages through to implementation. The report will include a set of recommendations for next steps in the development process.Aspects considered are:• Outline reference design• Business case and commercial arrangements• Replication and learning sharing opportunities• Recommendations including road map Measurement Quality StatementThe measurement approach used to meet Data Quality objectives will be through the identification of high calibre project partners whom are experts in their given field and the use of real data from National Grid sites. In this instance the project will be limited to a desktop study and therefore will combine separate partner historic data sources to inform new insights into the use of Hydrogen. The resulting insights will be assessed by the academic partners to correlate with other research and alternative opportunities in the field of compression.Data Quality StatementThe project will ensure that data used is of sufficient quality to deliver project objectives by the independent peer review of key activities by the academic partners in the project. The relevant data and background information will be stored for future access within the National Grid Innovation Sharepoint site. The feasibility study will comprise five work packages.Work package 1 – Turbine CapabilityWork Package Lead – Siemens with Peer Review by Cardiff UniversityThis work package looks to develop an understanding of the capability of the SGT-A20 gas turbines and all equipment that support operation (including: package enclosure, fuel metering and DCS) with varying blends of hydrogen. The work package will focus initially on 25% and 100% blends as 29% is seen as the threshold of hydrogencapability without the need for large investment. It will include: site survey; compressor usage assessment; blending and variability study; scenario development and their implication on equipment modifications and emissions; opportunities for replication and learning sharing across UK wide compression fleet; benchmarking; defining physical test programme; consideration of alternative technologies. Work package 2 - Operational ConsiderationsWork Package Lead – Mott MacDonald with Peer Review by Cardiff University and Imperial College on respective specialist areasThis work package looks at the operational considerations on our compressor sites. The work package will consider: safety; HMI; environmental and cost implications of using hydrogen as a fuel gas. It will include: technical concept development of both GT equipment/controls and hydrogen production, storage and supply; site environmental considerations including HAZID; utility capacity; site regulations and safety systems; impact on procedures and standards. Work package 3 – Electrolyser capability. Work Package Lead – SBLC Ltd supported by Mott MacDonald and Siemens with Peer Review by Imperial CollegeThis work package looks at the electrolyser capability and inputs key technical limitations in relation to the production of hydrogen including the reliability of the renewable energy sources, water and costs associated. It will include: electrolyser tech watch; location and production feasibility; commercial review and supply chain assessment.  Work package 4 – Business Case Work Package Lead – SBLC Ltd supported by Mott MacDonald and Siemens with Peer Review by Imperial CollegeThis work package brings information from work packages 1-3 together to build the business case and provide guidance on the future work required to use hydrogen as a fuel gas for compressor turbines. It will include: economic modelling; value and risk assessment; funding opportunity analysis; understand the impact of hydrogen legislation and policy; consider whole energy system interactions and define opportunities for replication and sharing learning. Work Package 5 – Project Management, Standards & ReportingWork Package Lead – SBLC LtdThis package will include the project management, project and technical reporting and risk identification. As per NIA governance all activity through the project needs to be logged and reported to allow dissemination to the energy industry. This project will have limited financial benefits at this stage as it is a desktop study. Optimised business cases will be able to be developed to enable improved pricing in future price control periods.  1. Determine the viability of running SGT-A20 GTs on blends of hydrogen and methane up to 100% hydrogen.2. Determine the viability of supplying green hydrogen to the SGT-A20 GTs at an example Compressor Station.3. Identify relevant safety, environmental, technical, operational and economic issues.4. Generate an innovative outline reference design of the hydrogen system linking locally produced green electricity to hydrogen consumed by the SGT-A20 GTs.5. Generate a business case showing the economic and environmental benefits to consumers, local and regional people and economies.6. Develop a roadmap from the outcome of the study, through practical trials, prototyping to full roll-out with significant hydrogen blending.
Abstract	The project will undertake a feasibility study on an example NTS compressor station to examine safety, environmental, technical, operational and economic issues in blending hydrogen/methane for combustion in a gas turbine (GT) driving NTS compression. The project also determines how to establish an innovative green hydrogen production, storage and supply facility to fuel GTs on varying hydrogen/methane blends. This strategic study is preparatory work ahead of demonstration in an NTS compressor station, which precedes hydrogen blending in NTS compressors as business as usual. Higher hydrogen concentrations may be achieved in the GTs in advance of similar blends within the transmission pipes. As such, this strategic and innovative project could de-risk the hydrogen transition of GT compression operations and bring forward CO2 and NOx reductions.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	14/10/22