Independent certification organisation DNV is to lead a study that will produce a roadmap for European distribution networks to show how they can unlock the growth potential of hydrogen utilisation. DNV was contracted to conduct the study by the Ready4H2 project, a recently launched European project that aims to combine the hydrogen expertise and experiences from 80 European gas distribution companies and organisations.?
The study will include qualitative research and analysis of the experiences that the European gas distribution companies have with hydrogen. This will be divided into specific hydrogen activities on projects, infrastructure, national involvement and on the progression of National hydrogen strategies.
DNV will analyse how European gas distributors can contribute to the hydrogen development before developing a roadmap to show how gas distribution companies can support the transformation of Europe’s primary hydrogen distribution infrastructure.
Peter Kristensen of EVIDA, and the project leader said: “The European gas distribution network is enormous – and the Ready4H2 projects represents more than 1.5 million km of pipeline across Europe. There is a significant upside if large parts of the gas distribution network can be repurposed and extended, since they will drive the transition from natural gas to hydrogen at a lower cost compared to developing a new network. To collect knowledge with gas distributors, establish how contributions to the hydrogen value chain can be made and developing a roadmap for transforming Europe’s gas distribution infrastructure is a key part of DNV’s study.”
Prajeev Rasiah, executive VP for Energy Systems, Northern Europe, at DNV said: “Projects like Ready4H2 are very important to a successful energy transition. Our Energy Transition Outlook showed that it is vital to stimulate the demand for hydrogen and provide consumers with easier access to the energy, especially in the emission intensive ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors. The Ready4H2 project provides knowledge on how gas distribution infrastructure may be utilized for such purpose and aims to combine the hydrogen expertise and experiences across European gas distribution companies.”
Mick Cramer Jakobsen, DNV’s head of Customer Relations and Sales for Northern Europe said: “The hope is that when the project is complete, introducing hydrogen to the infrastructure will be within reach and will transform the natural gas system.”
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