Spain’s Nortegas advances towards blending hydrogen in gas network
Nortegas, a Spanish natural gas distributor, announced today (24th February) launching of the H2sarea project, aiming to lead the hydrogen distribution market. It plans to find technological solutions in the hydrogen value chain to help find the right materials and products as well as safely injecting hydrogen into the existing natural gas distribution network.
The company will inject hydrogen into its existing 8,000 km pipeline infrastructure. This would help in the decarbonisation of the residential, industrial and mobility markets.
H2sarea will explore all aspects of blending and distribution of hydrogen in the gas network. These include hydrogen injection systems, compression systems, materials and components testing, mixers and separation systems, sensors and burners.
The project is part of the Basque Hydrogen Corridor. Nortegas will lead the H2SAREA, whose members include companies from Basque industry ABC Compresores, Fidegas, H2Site, Erreka Fastening Solutions and Orkli. It also works with techno Tecnalia, Ikerlan and the National Hydrogen Centre.
The H2sarea project will last three years with initial R&D would be conducted at the Tecnalia and Ikerlan technology centres. The project will use the H2Loop research platform, allowing testing materials and components in hydrogen- natural gas blend. In the first phase, hydrogen injection will be up to 20%, gradually reaching to100% in the second phase. The project findings will highly important for future legislation and regulatory strategies in the energy sector.
Nortegas has also recently worked on another hydrogen R&D project, called Sinatrah, in collaboration with Siemens Engines and the Tecnalia Technology Centre. The project was focused on developing and operating advanced hydrogen distribution systems and their efficient use in sustainable industrial applications.
In December 2020, Nortegas, along with White Summit Capital, Castleton Commodities International (CCI), Sener and Bizkaia Energía, started developing the first national green hydrogen plant at Amorebieta-Boroa combined cycle power plant in Bizkaia. The 20 MW plant will produce 1,500 tonnes/year of green hydrogen.
Nortegas is also working with Duro Felguera and Hunosa on several green hydrogen projects in the Asturian coalfields, focusing on production, storage, transport, injection of hydrogen into the natural gas network and its application of hydrogen in mobility.
