Abstract
The growing rate of electricity generation from renewables is leading to new operational and management issues on the power grid because the electricity generated exceeds local requirements and the transportation or storage capacities are inadequate. An interesting option that is under investigation by several years is the opportunity to use the renewable electricity surplus to power electrolyzers that split water into its component parts, with the hydrogen being directly injected into natural gas pipelines for both storage and transportation. This innovative approach merges together the concepts of (i) renewable power-to-hydrogen (P2H) and of (ii) hydrogen blending into natural gas networks. The combination of renewable P2H and hydrogen blending into natural gas networks has a huge potential in terms of environmental and social benefits, but it is still facing several barriers that are technological, economic, legislative. In the framework of the new hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe, Member States should design a roadmap moving towards a hydrogen ecosystem by 2050. The blending of “green hydrogen”, that is hydrogen produced by renewable sources, in the natural gas network at a limited percentage is a key element to enable hydrogen production in a preliminary and transitional phase. Therefore, it is urgent to evaluate at the same time (i) the potential of green hydrogen blending at low percentage (up to 10%) and (ii) the maximum P2H capacity compatible with low percentage blending. The paper aims to preliminary assess the green hydrogen blending potential into the Italian natural gas network as a tool for policy makers, grid and networks managers and energy planners.
Highlights
Are the existing infrastructures ready for the decarbonized energy systems of the future, or do they need to be adapted through design and development of new solutions? In the last years investments in renewable power plants have grown rapidly worldwide moving towards a “renewable electrical networks scenario” [1,2]
Three configurations are proposed for the energy grid of the future, i.e., the grids towards a close to carbon neutral gas system: (i) the use of biomethane and synthetic natural gas (SNG) that ensure no adaptation of end-user applications; (ii) an increasing hydrogen blending percentage into the existing natural gas networks; and (iii) the retrofitting of the natural gas networks to transport only hydrogen
Different values of minimum natural gas (MNG) are obtained depending on the days, i.e., the lowest flowrate is calculated during the weekends and during public holidays
Summary
Are the existing infrastructures ready for the decarbonized energy systems of the future, or do they need to be adapted through design and development of new solutions? In the last years investments in renewable power plants have grown rapidly worldwide moving towards a “renewable electrical networks scenario” [1,2]. Three configurations are proposed for the energy grid of the future, i.e., the grids towards a close to carbon neutral gas system: (i) the use of biomethane and synthetic natural gas (SNG) that ensure no adaptation of end-user applications; (ii) an increasing hydrogen blending percentage into the existing natural gas networks; and (iii) the retrofitting of the natural gas networks to transport only hydrogen. Several resources and long times could be required to put in place such approach: (i) plants for CO2 capture from flue gases emissions should be realized, and (ii) infrastructures dedicated to CO2 storage and transport to the final users should be implemented. For these reasons, the first configuration is considered for a long-term energy strategy. Hydrogen blending into the natural gas grids appears to be the most viable solutions in the short-medium terms [10]
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