The UK's Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has awarded DNV GL a contract to assess the role that the gas network could play in a low carbon future where new gases such as hydrogen and synthetic natural gas (SNG) are increasingly used.
According to the ETI, Europe's energy systems will be transformed by the transition to low carbon technologies. Also increased electrification will be a key part of this transition, gas networks could also play a key role, it says.
The ETI's gas vector transition pathways development project will investigate four separate future scenarios developed by ETI that demonstrate the range of new gases as well as the range of production and delivery pathways that could be used by the UK.
Each of these scenarios takes a view of the future and the contribution of existing and new gases including bio-SNG, hydrogen and natural gas. These scenarios impose differing but significant changes on energy infrastructure and the transmission and distribution of the gases.
The project will seek to provide a better understanding of the implications and the challenges that may arise as a result of these major infrastructure transitions. It will help to determine how affordable the transitions could be.
Building on this, and identifying potential solutions to any engineering challenges and implementation costs, the project will provide further evidence to inform investment in different energy system transitions.
"We believe that a range of gases, namely bio-SNG, hydrogen and natural gas, have the potential to play an increasingly significant role in the delivery of energy," said Susie Kistruck, project manager at the ETI. "Gases such as bio-SNG and hydrogen, could feasibly lower overall effective CO2 emissions whilst continuing to ensure the secure supply of energy to a wide range of end-users."
Sian Crampsie
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