Adding hydrogen to natural gas grids is not a new idea. It has been carefully considered in Europe through a body of work over the last decade.
This work has included assessing its impact on the pipeline network (HIPS-Net project); how it burns as a blend to support demonstration projects such as GRHYD. The GRHYD project has permission from the French regulator to blend, distribute and use a 20% hydrogen natural gas mix for a trial due to start in late 2017. Such examples provide confidence in the principles and in the assessment of underlying risks. HyDeploy is seeking to address the same issues in the context of the UK gas network and its range of appliances, and to evaluate them within the UK regulatory framework.
The number of serious incidents related to gas supply and use in the UK are extremely low, particularly when compared with other day-to-day activities. This is because under the UK regulations including the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (GS(M)R) managed by the HSE, equipment and operational procedures are well controlled.
Before any hydrogen can be blended with normal gas in the Keele network, the HSE must be satisfied that the approved blended gas will be as safe to use as normal gas, and that existing equipment and established procedures remain as effective in operating safely and managing the risks.
The specific areas of risks being evaluated as part of HyDeploy are:
- the effect of blended gas on how appliances operate (click here to find out more)
- how blended gas interacts with materials (e.g. pipes) (click here to find out more)
- the effect on gas leakage behaviour and detection (click here to find out more)
- risk of fire or explosion (click here to find out more)
- ensuring reliable blending of the hydrogen and natural gas (click here to find out more).
The core work in Phase 1 is a detailed assessment of these risks based on the science, international experience and detailed testing.