Can Repurposing Existing Pipelines Increase Green Hydrogen Transport?
By Emily Newton
As professionals involved in hydrogen pipeline design review their options, many wonder if they could achieve project goals by repurposing existing infrastructure rather than building it from scratch. Indeed, that would be a sustainable choice that could save materials and labor. But how feasible is it? The people working on numerous projects hope to answer that all-important question.
Preparing Pipelines for Hydrogen Relatively Soon
Many seemingly sustainable projects have numerous shortcomings because people determine that too many obstacles exist. Such results typically cause those overseeing such efforts to prioritize others that appear comparatively more straightforward to implement. Could including repurposing projects within hydrogen pipeline options happen within the next several years? That was one of the main questions posed in a 2023 Dutch study.
This research centered on Noordgastransport (NGT) and Northern Offshore Gas Transport (NOGAT), two entities that have owned and operated pipelines in the North Sea for five decades. The process involved exploring several possibilities for reusing the existing infrastructure. Another goal was to determine the likelihood of implementing at least one by 2030. If people know they can start using a solution soon, individuals will probably be much more interested in it than a remote fix.
The researchers performed a detailed analysis encompassing factors such as environmental and ecological impacts, cost estimates and rerouting assessments. That data collectively enabled them to select the two best options from the various scenarios. Each involved two pipelines, with one converted to transport hydrogen and the other supporting the transport needs of all the area’s current and future gas fields. Both would allow hydrogen applications to commence as soon as 2030.
The findings indicated the reuse scenarios would be up to 90% less expensive than building new infrastructure. Additionally, repurposing reduces the environmental and ecological impacts, which is particularly important since part of the area is a nature reserve.
While looking to the future, the team believed it possible to create a redundant hydrogen transport network with existing infrastructure by 2040. By then, both pipelines would move up to 14 gigawatts of the gas.
Understanding the Benefits of Repurposing in Hydrogen Pipeline Design
Decision-makers will be more open to reusing existing infrastructure instead of building it from scratch if they know about some of the benefits of the first option. Expert perspectives can provide that essential clarity.
Thomas Hüwener is a management board member associated with Open Grid Europe GmbH, a natural gas transmission system operator. He sees two significant advantages to reusing existing gas infrastructure. First, a 1-meter pipeline operating at 80-100 bar can transport approximately 24 gigawatts of energy or eight times the capacity of high-voltage power lines.
Additionally, Hüwener explained that the existing natural gas infrastructure has much greater storage capacity than existing electrical lines. He said Germany’s electrical infrastructure can store about a half-hour’s worth of power, but the natural gas infrastructure’s stored reserves can last for three months.
He also pointed out that while citizen-driven interest groups could hinder the development of new hydrogen pipeline design efforts, that is less likely to happen when those overseeing such work reuse the infrastructure already there. Members of the public would also likely appreciate that hydrogen fits into the world’s clean energy future. Water vapor is the lone by-product of green hydrogen, making it a sustainable option.
Finally, while expanding on the advantages of reusing existing infrastructure, Hüwener noted that people have several options when deciding how to transport the gas. Although he recognized that moving 100% hydrogen is the ideal long-term option, Hüwener said another possibility is to blend 5% hydrogen into the natural gas moving through long-distance pipelines or 20% hydrogen in the distribution grid. Hüwener believes this approach would allow the heating market to use green energy.
Testing a Specific Hydrogen Pipeline Design Option
Many people recognize that if they use existing infrastructure to transport hydrogen, minor changes may still be necessary before relying on it for the new purpose. A 2022 investigation in Japan explored a specific option that involves inserting a hydrogen pipeline into an existing underground system.
Those involved in this proof-of-concept study investigated several factors, including creating a control system to ensure safety, verifying an on-site leak detection system and testing various hydrogen sensors in real-world settings.
More specifically, participants wanted to explore the potential safety risks caused by incidents such as ruptures and natural disasters. The more people know about these hazards now, the more strategically they can plan to reduce or eliminate those threats.
Additionally, this study highlighted opportunities to streamline improvements based on the assumption that society would work toward consuming large amounts of CO2-free hydrogen. Some options included using hydrogen to power data centers or building hydrogen stations for fuel-cell vehicles. According to analysts, the hydrogen fuel cell’s market worth could surpass $130 billion by 2030. Improved access to gas through existing pipelines would complement that expected growth.
Launching a Real-World Trial
People must run detailed tests in realistic environments to see whether those tests validate their beliefs about the advantages of using existing infrastructure for hydrogen transport. Consider a Scottish project that would move the gas between Grangemouth and Granton.
Residents living in those areas began receiving educational leaflets informing them of the project and some associated road closures and traffic restrictions lasting approximately six months. Reports indicate the work will occur on land used by numerous petrochemical companies.
The repurposing affects a 30-kilometer natural gas pipeline, and construction will commence on a new 1.2-kilometer pipeline. The latter links the current infrastructure to a nearby hydrogen source. As of May 2024, planning officials certified the proposed project as lawful, marking a significant achievement for those involved.
Since pipeline repurposing to transport hydrogen is a relatively new idea, some officials may take longer to approve these projects than conventional ones. However, when they see other examples of authorities giving the go-ahead for work to start, these logistics should proceed more smoothly.
Creating New Opportunities in Hydrogen Pipeline Design
Although some plans may justify creating additional infrastructure for hydrogen, these examples show why it is worthwhile for those leading such efforts to first review existing infrastructure. In addition to being more cost-effective, repurposing could have shorter timelines and cause less environmental disruption than new builds.
Emily Newton is a construction and industrial journalist. She is also the Editor-in-Chief for Revolutionized Magazine. Keep up with Emily by subscribing to Revolutionized’s Newsletter.
