Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has begun testing how existing networks cope under 100 per cent hydrogen as part of the long-running H21 project.
MicroGrid is a gas distribution test grid which NGN claims is the first of its kind. It has been purpose-built by DNV and located at the latter’s test and research facility at Spadeadam, Cumbria.
The £1.8 million grid mirrors a typical UK distribution network and will be used to understand how gas distribution companies would manage and operate the existing networks under hydrogen.
Construction of MicroGrid was funded by the £6.9 million grant awarded by Ofgem’s Network Innovation Competition (NIC) as part of the H21 programme, a suite of gas industry projects aimed at proving that the existing gas network can be converted to transport 100 per cent hydrogen.
It consists of approximately one kilometre of pipework of varying pressure tiers and diameters, which will link to three demonstration houses featuring hydrogen boilers.
Next year the grid will also link to the FutureGrid gas transmission test network, also being built at Spadeadam by National Grid with partners including NGN.
Operations on MicroGrid include purging, venting, repairs and maintenance which will be tested to validate the suitability of existing procedures as well as validating gas flow and pressure modelling software. Pressure and flow within the test network can be remotely monitored at the site control room.
After nine months of tests a report will be prepared and recommend any operational maintenance procedures which need updating for a hydrogen network.
Ryan Mallinder, Northern Gas Networks’ H21 project manager, further explained: “Whilst the H21 project has already established that it is technically possible to repurpose the gas network to transport hydrogen, the MicroGrid starts to look at the more detailed aspects of operating a hydrogen gas network on a day-to-day basis and any changes which we need to make from existing natural gas networks.
“This facility is the first of its kind and scale anywhere else in the world as far as we are aware. As well as furthering our research into operations, the MicroGrid can be used for engineers to learn any new skills and competencies needed for operating a hydrogen gas network.
“It can also be used by suppliers to develop innovative new solutions and any tooling which may be needed as we move towards 100 per cent hydrogen networks.”