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| Reference Number | NIA_WWU_02_40 | |
| Title | Emissions Mitigations Purging for a Hydrogen Future | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal (Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 90%; Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (Hydrogen, Hydrogen transport and distribution) 10%; |
|
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given Wales and West Utilities |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 November 2023 | |
| End Date | 31 May 2024 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £151,199 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Energy | |
| Region | Wales | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities (99.999%) |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Network (NGN) North East (0.001%) |
|
| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities (0.000%) Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (0.000%) |
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| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_WWU_02_40 |
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| Objectives | This project seeks to remove the need to vent or flare natural gas (or hydrogen, in the future) into the atmosphere, as both a part of current operations and a large-scale hydrogen conversion programme. NGN"s H21 programme has previously explored venting and flaring of natural gas but this research didn"t explore the viability of recirculation or gas capturing as options.This spend will fund the delivery of 11 work packages across two phases:Phase 1 (Literature Review): Categorising natural gas emissions in volumes and carbon emissions from common operational practices across GDNs, and research current products and technologies currently exist to avoid venting of natural gas to air on a distribution network or applicable industry.Phase 2 (Solutions): Investigating ways of removing the need to vent or flare to the atmosphere and, if no or limited potential solutions are identified in Phase 1, to conceptualise and prototype options for addressing this challenge.Data Quality StatementSteer will follow good practice and relevant standards during delivery of the project. Data produced as part of this project will be subject to quality assurance to ensure that the information produced with each deliverable is accurate to the best of their knowledge and that sources of information are appropriately documented.Steer have reflected on the data likely to be created, obtained, and used during this project:Steer are not expecting to have to deal with data sensitivities, such as personally identifiable information (GDPR) or intellectual property.Steer acknowledge that they may be provided with potentially sensitive commercial data from product suppliers. If this is the case, Steer agree to address the data management of this before receiving the data.Steer may be provided with potentially sensitive information from WWU and other GDNs. If this is the case, Steer agree to address the data management of this before receiving the data.Steer will ensure that any data (raw and processed) created through testing is of sufficient completeness, accuracy and integrity.All deliverables and project outputs will be stored on Steer"s internal cloud platform (Tresorit) ensuring backup and version management.Steer use standard Microsoft office programmes (PowerPoint, Word, and Excel) throughout the work. In addition, Steer may use Miro during the Ideation work package this will be locked post-project and can be reported through standard Microsoft office programmes.At the completion of the project, relevant project documentation and reports will also be made available on the ENA Smarter Networks Portal, and dissemination material can be shared with the relevant stakeholders.Measurement Quality StatementThe methodology used in this project will be subject to Steer"s own quality assurance regime. Quality assurance processes and the source of data, measurement processes and equipment, and data processing will be clearly documented and verifiable.The measurements, designs and assessments will also be clearly documented in the relevant deliverables and final project report and will be made available for review. This will include the procedures and techniques used, and mechanisms to ensure traceability, reliability and comparability of results.The project is rated low in the common assessment framework detailed in the ENIP document after assessing the total project value, the progression through the TRL levels, the number of project delivery partners and the high level of data assumptions. No additional peer review is required for this project. The project will be delivered through 11 work packages (WP) across two phases:Phase 1: Literature ReviewThere are five work packages associated with this phase:WP1: Review & Categorise EmissionsWP2: Review & Categorise Current Techniques / ProductsWP3: Review & Categorise Previous Innovation ProjectsWP4: Combined Scored MatrixWP5: Decision PointPhase 2: SolutionsThere are six work packages associated with this Phase.WP6: Working Group EngagementWP7: Develop Design SpecificationWP8: Progress Options direct from Phase 1WP9: IdeationWP10: Initial Prototyping and ValidationWP11: Future PlansSteer will develop an initial methodology to simply categorise natural gas emissions in volumes from common operational practises across GDNs, working with input from the other GDNs to inform this. Steer will also look beyond the gas industry for technologies or procedures that enable the following:Removal of the need to vent or flareOn-site direct use or energy conversionProducts for reinjection at site or off-siteTechniques for improving efficiencies of existing processes e.g., purging techniquesUsing the scoring methodology developed, these techniques and products will be ranked. A short summary report will be produced on the findings of Phase 1.WP6 will necessitate the formation of a working group to advise on work processes, practices, safety, and environmental impact throughout WP7-10, consisting of core staff from Operations, Policy, and HSE teams; the Innovation Project Manager is to assist with the recruitment and running of this team. Steer will work with this group to develop a design specification for the solution, progressing those identified in Phase 1. The initial prototyping and validation phase will:Identify key barriers and look at how these might be overcomeReview safety with the appropriate body/individualConsider how testing, qualification, and training might be carried out.The final work package will culminate in an overview of the project findings and details of the ideas for taking forward. This will be consolidated into a report or presentation for dissemination. To produce a final report summarising the findings of the work packages that encompass phases one and two of the project. Namely, the outputs of the literature review (which focuses on categorising and quantifying carbon and natural gas emissions in volumes from common operational practises across GDNs, and research on current products and technologies that currently exist to avoid venting of natural gas to air on a distribution network), and the search for solutions (means of removing the need to vent or flare to atmosphere, and to conceptualise and prototype options for addressing this challenge if existent solutions are limited in this aim). | |
| Abstract | At present, gas distribution networks transporting natural gas suffer environmentally harmful carbon emissions through shrinkage: venting from safety equipment, leaks, regulators, and scheduled maintenance. Leaks are set to decrease in frequency owing to the mains replacement programme; purging natural gas to air as part of GDN operational procedures, however, is prominent. With hydrogen being seen as a viable potential solution to decarbonising domestic heat and industry, a UK wide network conversion utilising the existing pipeline infrastructure is not unlikely. To do so, however, would require purging significant volumes of natural gas to atmosphere. Although similar work was undertaken as part of the H21 project, its scope of work has only looked at venting and some flaring. The project aims to investigate the feasibility of eliminating natural gas emissions from both current operations and a large scale hydrogen conversion programme. | |
| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 02/10/24 | |
