Projects & Initiatives

The assessment of appropriate operational procedures to govern the injection of a hydrogen/natural gas blend into the Keele University G3 gas distribution network was a requirement as part of the HyDeploy project. To perform this assessment a group of gas industry experts (from Cadent Northern Gas Networks and Keele University Estates Team) along with scientists and engineers from the Health & Safety Laboratory came together to form an Operational Procedures Forum. This forum came together periodically in various workshops to explore and assess the impact of hydrogen blended gas on all the relevant and current operational procedures that govern the safe transportation and utilisation of natural gas within the Keele University G3 gas distribution network.

The operational procedures assessment has led to a determination as to whether a change is or is not required for relevant operational procedures where a basis of concern existed with respect to the injection of hydrogen blended gas. The report essentially summarises the key points of the basis of concern for different operational procedures by highlighting the key points of the existing procedure and whether this procedure requires modification for the hydrogen blended gas injection trial. Any requirements to modify an existing procedure have been given in this report referencing the source as to where the detailed analysis for the change/no change recommendation has been given.

The forum took into account the associated experimental and research carried out as part of the HyDeploy project such as the assessment of gas characteristics materials impact asset survey of assets on the Keele G3 GDN and impact of hydrogen blended gas on gas detection equipment references to these studies have been given accordingly to associated impacted operational procedures.

The conclusion of the assessment is that there are some operational procedures that are unchanged some that require an increase in the frequency as to how often they are performed and some procedures which require a fundamental modification. Therefore it is necessary that an appropriate training package is built off the back of the results presented in this report and disseminated accordingly to all relevant Operatives that will be responsible for the safety operation and maintenance of the Keele G3 GDN during the hydrogen blend injection period.

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Diesel generators are currently used as an off-grid solution for backup power but this causes CO2 and GHG emissions noise emissions and the negative effects of the volatile diesel market influencing operating costs. Green hydrogen production by means of water electrolysis has been proposed as a feasible solution to fill the gaps between demand and production the main handicaps of using exclusively renewable energy in isolated applications. This manuscript presents a business case of an off-grid hydrogen production by electrolysis applied to the electrification of isolated sites. This study is part of the European Ely4off project (n◦ 700359). Under certain techno-economic hypothesis four different system configurations supplied exclusively by photovoltaic are compared to find the optimal Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCoE): photovoltaic-batteries photovoltaic-hydrogen-batteries photovoltaic-diesel generator and diesel generator; the influence of the location and the impact of different consumptions profiles is explored. Several simulations developed through specific modeling software are carried out and discussed. The main finding is that diesel-based systems still allow lower costs than any other solution although hydrogen-based solutions can compete with other technologies under certain conditions.

Hydrogen as the International Energy Agency (IEA 2019) notes has experienced a number of ‘false dawns’ - in the 1970s 1990s and early 2000s - which subsequently faded. However this time there is reason to think that hydrogen will play a substantial role in the global energy system. The most important factor driving this renewed focus is the ability of hydrogen to support deep carbon abatement by assisting in those sectors where abatement with non-carbon electricity has so far proven difficult. Hydrogen can also address poor urban air quality energy security and provides a good means of shifting energy supply between regions and between seasons.

In response to these changed conditions many countries states and even cities have developed hydrogen strategies while various interest groups have developed industry roadmaps which fulfil a similar role.  

This report summarises 19 hydrogen strategies and aims to help readers understand how nations regions and industries are thinking about opportunities to become involved in this emerging industry. Its prime purpose is to act as a resource to assist those involved in long-term energy policy planning in Australia including those involved in the development of Australia’s hydrogen strategy

The full report can be read on the Energy Network website at this link here

Winlaton site was chosen as the site for the HyDeploy 2 North East trial as it was seen as the site that offered a high degree of variability with regards materials on the network size of network and statistical representation of housing. The Winlaton trial network is an estate of the wider Winlaton gas network situated in Blaydon near Gateshead. The Winlaton trial network has been isolated from the wider Winlaton gas network where it was previously supplied from and will be supplied with the blended gas from NGN’s Low Thornley gas depot with the installation of a brand-new pressure regulating district governor.<br/>The data contained within this report outlines the expected seasonal gas demand on the Winlaton trial network and the associated leakage and repair history for the network. No unusual repairs or leakage behaviour has been observed on this network. A DSEAR assessment has been conducted on the governor station ensuring ATEX compliance. The network isolation and reinforcement requirements are also given in this report highlighting the necessary actions to isolate the trial network from the wider Winlaton gas network. The NGN Safety Case outlines the risks associated with the operation of a gas grid and the ALARP mitigations developed to minimise them and what response is necessary in case such risks are realised. The existing safety case will be amended to account for the infrastructural operational and commercial changes associated with the HyDeploy 2 project. The report also contains a detailed register of all the assets on the Winlaton trial network this data set was used to inform the scientific research programme and specifically to allow an assessment to be carried out with regards to the operability of the existing and newly installed assets on the Winlaton trial network with respect to the blended gas.<br/>Click on supplement tab to view the other documents from this report

There is no inherent property of hydrogen that makes it unsuitable for metering at distribution or transmission pressures. Towns gas containing large percentages of hydrogen was used for many years in the UK and continues to be in use in Hong Kong and Singapore. Many manufacturers sell their ordinary mechanical gas meters as suitable for hydrogen in a laboratory or industrial situation; unfortunately lack of demand has meant that none of these meters seem to have certified under appropriate metering regulations for gaseous hydrogen (e.g. the Measuring Instruments Directive)<br/>Some of the more sophisticated modern inferential meters (e.g. thermal or ultrasonic) currently designed specifically for natural gas (or LPG if suitably calibrated) are likely to unsuitable for repurposing directly to hydrogen but none of the problems appear fundamental or insuperable. The largest potential hurdle probably surrounds the physical size of current meters. A hydrogen appliance will consume about 3.3 more hydrogen than natural gas (on a volumetric basis) and using traditional designs this would have been measured through a meter probably too large to fit within an existing meter box. Unless unsolved such an increase in size would add materially to any hydrogen re-purposing programme.<br/>The meter trade thus need to be challenged to come up with a hydrogen meter that is the same physical size as a natural gas meter on a power rating basis (i.e. in kW). Ultrasonic and thermal mass meters should be included in the necessary Research and Development programme.<br/>A meter test programme is suggested that will provide evidence to meter manufacturers that the metering of hydrogen is not inherently difficult and thus convince them to make the necessary investments and/or approach the GDNO’s for assistance with such a programme.

The HyDeploy project has undertaken a programme of work to assess the effect of hydrogen addition on the safety and performance of gas appliances and installations. A representative set of eight appliances have been assessed in laboratory experiments with a range of test gases that explored high and low Wobbe Index and hydrogen concentrations up to 28.4 % mol/mol. These tests have demonstrated that the addition of hydrogen does not affect the key hazard areas of CO production light back flame out or the operation of flame failure devices. It was identified that for some designs of gas fire appliances the operation of the oxygen depletion sensors may be affected by the addition of hydrogen. Testing of the gas fires that are present at Keele University that use oxygen depletion sensors have been shown to operate satisfactorily.<br/>A comprehensive onsite survey programme at Keele University has assessed 95% of the installations (126 of 133) that will receive the hydrogen blended gas during the HyDeploy trial. Where access to properties was not possible then the information obtained revealed that the appliances were annually checked either through British Gas service contracts or as a result of being rental properties. The onsite testing programme assessed installations for gas tightness and appliance combustion safety and operation with normal line gas G20 reference gas and two hydrogen blended gases. The checks identified a small number instances were remedial work was required to correct poor condition or operation. Only one case was found to be immediately dangerous which was capped off until repair work was undertaken. CO and smoke alarms were fitted in approximately half of properties and alarms were provided as required to the occupants. Gas tightness tests identified leaks in three installations. Where installations are gas tight then analysis has shown that no additional leaks would occur with hydrogen blended gas. There were no issues identified with the combustion performance of those appliances that were operating correctly and results were in line with those obtained in the laboratory testing programme.<br/>The findings of the Appliance and Installation testing program have been used to define the input values into the HyDeploy quantified risk assessment (QRA) where Keele University specific operation is different to GB as a whole or where the findings show the addition of hydrogen will change the risk profile.<br/>Click on supplements to see the other documents from this report

A consortiumcomprising Cadent Gas Health and Safety Executive – Science Division ITMPower Keele University Northern Gas Networks and Progressive Energy is undertaking the second phase of the research project HyDeploy. The project the first two phase ofwhich are funded under the UK Network Innovation Competition scheme aims to demonstrate that natural gas containing levels of hydrogen beyond the upper limit set out in Schedule 3 of in the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (GSMR) can be distributed and utilised safely and efficiently in the UK gas distribution networks.<br/>The first phase of the HyDeploy project concludes with a 10-month field trial in which hydrogen will be injected into part of a private gas distribution system owned and operated by Keele University.<br/>The second phase of the HyDeploy project (HyDeploy2) continues on from the work of the first phase and is scheduled to conclude with two 12-month field trials in which hydrogen will be injected into public gas networks owned and operated by Northern Gas Networks and Cadent Gas.<br/>Dave Lander Consulting Limited is providing technical support to the HyDeploy project and this report presents the results of Quantified Risk Assessment (QRA) for the proposed field trial of hydrogen injection into part of a gas distribution system owned and operated by Northern Gas Networks (NGN) near the town of Winlaton in Gateshead Tyne and Wear. The QRA is intended to support an application by NGN for exemption from the legal requirement to only convey gas that is compliant with the requirements of Schedule 3 of the GSMR. The QRA estimates the risk to persons within the trial area affected by the proposed injection. A similar QRA1 was developed for the original HyDeploy field trial at Keele University.<br/>Click on the supplement tab to see the other documents from this report

The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) commissioned a study to research the capacity of the manufacturing supply chain to meet expected future demand for heat pumps. This report contains analysis of the existing supply chain including component parts and also assesses the risks to and opportunities for growth in domestic heat pump manufacture and export.<br/><br/>Alongside a literature review the findings in this report were supported by interviews with organisations involved in the manufacture of heat pumps and an online workshop held with a range of businesses throughout the supply chain.

During the exemption application process the original report was evaluated as part of a regulatory review and responses to questions submitted for further consideration. These have been addressed in this revised version (revision 1) in the form of an addendum. The addendum includes the question raised its number and the response to it. The area of the main body of the report to which each question and response refers is indicated by square brackets and the addendum number e.g. [A1].<br/>Through analysis of the literature and results of the practical testing the susceptibility of materials present in the Winlaton trial site to hydrogen degradation has been assessed with consideration of the Winlaton operating conditions (up to 20% H2 at total blend pressures of 20 mbar – 2 bar). The aim of this report has been to determine whether there are any components which have been identified at the Winlaton trial site which could have a significantly increased risk of failure due to their exposure to hydrogen during the one year trial. Where possible direct supporting data has been used to make assessments on the likelihood of failure; in other cases the assessment was aided by collaborative expert opinion in the fields of mechanical engineering materials science and the domestic gas industry.<br/>Click on the supplements tab to view the other documents from this report

The Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) project ""Testing Hydrogen admixture for Gas Appliances"" aka THyGA is proud to release the second deliverable about the impact of hydrogen admixture on combustion processes. This time the report explores the expected impact of H2NG on a range of appliance designs installed in the EU.



After the deliverable D2.2 dedicated to the theorical estimation of the impact of H2 admixture THyGA reviews results from the litterature to evaluate available knowledge on CO and NOx formation overheating flame temperature flashback H₂ leakage operational implications and efficiency of appliances supplied with H2NG blends. Learn more and read deliverable D2.3.



Climate change is one of today’s most pressing global challenges. Since the emission of greenhouse gases is often closely related to the use and supply of energy the goal to avoid emissions requires a fundamental restructuring of the energy system including all parts of the technology chains from production to end-use. Natural gas is today one of the most important primary energy sources in Europe with utilization ranging from power generation and industry to appliances in the residential and commercial sector as well as mobility. As natural gas is a fossil fuel gas utilization is thus responsible for significant emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂₎ a greenhouse gas.



This is part two. Part one of this project can be found at this link