GERG - The European Gas Research Group kicks off a new initiative to better understand methane emissions caused by third-party damage to gas infrastructure towards a unified approach across European countries. The project aims to compare methodologies for determining the amount of methane emitted as a result of third-party damage. The kick-off meeting was held last Friday, October 9, bringing together project partners to discuss the project's objectives, align on the planned activities and establish the next steps.  

Kiwa is delivering the project on behalf of the partners: Gas Networks Ireland (GNI),  Gaz Réseau Distribution France (GRDF) and Netbeheer Nederland (NBNL). These partners will provide their methodologies through use cases and interviews. DBI Gruppe will also support the project by providing German data.   

The project will focus on addressing methane emissions associated with third-party damage, supporting other research and development of practical approaches to improve prevention, detection and mitigation. The project will compare calculation methods used by participating DSOs by evaluating standard cases using the respective methodologies. The findings will be compiled and published in a research paper, highlighting the results of the comparison and identifying potential differences between the approaches. The project may include practical testing to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of potential emission reduction factors in cases involving third-party damage.  

The project is divided into two phases (the 2nd phase will be optional). In Phase 1, partners will share information on the definition of third-party damages and then the calculation methods they use, creating an inventory that will describe the main advantages and disadvantages of each method and compare them.  

There is an optional Phase 2 to develop an excavation-simulation site to verify the calculation methods and simulate factors that might reduce emissions. The aim is to establish emission reduction factors for different pressure ranges and excavation scenarios, which can be applied to calculate the actual emissions resulting from third-party damage. 

The project partners will benefit from the project’s results for two main reasons: they will comply with the EU Regulation on the quantification of methane emissions, and they will gain a better understanding of the volume of emissions resulting from third-party damage. 

The data collected will support gas DSOs in their discussions with the competent authorities and provide a solid basis for further research into factors that may reduce methane emissions resulting from third-party damage. This includes situations involving groundwater or collapses in excavation areas, among others. 

The project is still welcoming new partners to join this European joint industry project. If you are interested, click here to get in touch with us.  

GERG – the European Gas Research Group presented its approach to identifying gas quality research priorities at the ENTSOG Gas Quality Workshop 2026, held on 5 November 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. The presentation highlighted how GERG’s Working Groups translate industry needs on gas quality into collaborative research, development and innovation projects in the biomethane, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), and hydrogen fields. Miguel Ballesteros, Programme Delivery Manager at GERG, also presented findings from European research projects in which GERG has been involved, showcasing their contributions to addressing gas quality challenges. 

GERG’s Biomethane Working Group has identified more than 30 research topics related to gas quality, covering areas such as gas composition, trace components, siloxanes, sulphur, terpenes, odourisation, analysers, meters and energy allocation. Key priorities include defining gas quality monitoring requirements for network operators, benchmarking existing and emerging analysers, developing best practices for measuring trace components and assessing the impact of specific compounds on infrastructure and equipment. The presentation also highlighted further knowledge gaps, including interactions between gas components, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), argon and the effects of siloxanes on porous underground gas storage rocks. 

Within the CCUS Working Group, members identified several research needs related to CO₂ quality, including identifying common purification methods and developing common quality specifications for European CO₂ networks. Other priorities include advancing online CO₂ quality monitoring, developing real-time sensors for dense-phase CO₂ transport and establishing equations of state to model the phase behaviour of CO₂ mixtures in transport and storage systems. Meanwhile, GERG’s Hydrogen Working Group has identified gas quality and metering, alongside purification technologies, as key cross-cutting research areas across the hydrogen value chain. 

The presentation also showcased findings from two European research projects in which GERG has been a partner, BioSTaR2c and SHIMMER, both of which ended in 2026. BioSTaR2c contributed to the CEN Biomethane multi-phase initiative, supporting CEN/TC 408 and the revision of EN 16723. Its findings provided valuable insights into the effects of siloxanes on industrial boilers, sulphur on natural gas vehicles, oxygen on underground gas storage and the impact of corrosive compounds.  

Meanwhile, SHIMMER investigated gas-quality measurement technologies for hydrogen injection and incorporated gas-quality tracking into an open-source fluid-dynamic model. These outputs upgrade the understanding of how gas quality parameters influence hydrogen admissibility in existing gas networks. 

Looking ahead, GERG also presented two upcoming biomethane research initiatives. Biomethane-Related Gas Quality Deviations and Cost-Effective Specification Setting aims to identify which gas quality components in biomethane differ from natural gas specifications, determine which differences are specific to biomethane, and assess whether they require further measures in the natural gas chain.. Meanwhile, Grid Management Balancing Biomethane Networks will investigate operational practices, technical measures and challenges associated with biomethane injection into European gas grids.  

GERG’s participation in the ENTSOG Gas Quality Workshop 2026 highlighted its role in addressing the evolving requirements of Europe’s gas infrastructure. By bringing together industry expertise and collaborative research across Europe, GERG continues to identify knowledge gaps, connect existing research activities and support the development of practical solutions across the gaseous fuels value chain. 

The CANDHy project presented its final results on 3 and 4 November 2026 at the headquarters of GERG – European Gas Research Group in Brussels, Belgium. The consortium held its Final Project Meeting and Final Workshop at GERG’s facilities, providing an opportunity to review the project's main achievements, discuss its latest developments, and share its findings with stakeholders from the hydrogen sector.

CANDHy Final Project Meeting

On 3 November, the CANDHy consortium gathered for its Final Project Meeting to review the latest project developments and discuss the remaining steps ahead of its completion at the end of the month. Ludovico Mazzocco, Project Officer at GERG, presented the efforts made to raise awareness of the project among key stakeholders, including communication through CANDHy’s channels, participation in international conferences and engagement through GERG's extensive network. He also updated on the project's exploitation strategy, which aims to translate CANDHy's research findings into practical tools and knowledge to support the wider deployment of hydrogen in European gas infrastructure. 

The meeting also featured several presentations on the project's technical results. Virginia Madina, Researcher in Materials and Processes at TECNALIA, outlined the risks and bottlenecks identified in developing a semi-empirical model to explain hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms in non-steel metallic materials. In addition, Lidia Martínez Izquierdo, R&D Coordinator at the Aragon Hydrogen Foundation and CANDHy Project Coordinator, together with Vanesa Gil, R&D Head at the same organisation, provided updates on the project's milestones, deliverables and reporting of results to the European Commission. 

CANDHy Final Workshop

On 4 November, GERG hosted the CANDHy Final Workshop, welcoming 25 stakeholders from the hydrogen community, both on-site and online. Moderated by Ludovico Mazzocco, the workshop provided a platform to present the project's main findings and conclusions on the compatibility of non-steel metallic materials used in gas networks with hydrogen and hydrogen-natural gas blends. 

The workshop opened with Lidia Martínez Izquierdo, who provided an overview of CANDHy and its main experimental activities. She highlighted several key achievements, including the mapping of non-steel metallic materials currently used in gas networks, the identification of knowledge gaps regarding their compatibility with hydrogen, the testing of new and vintage materials under hydrogen exposure conditions, and the development of guidelines to support the assessment of material compatibility with hydrogen. Virginia Madina then presented the main results and insights from the experimental testing campaign, which focused on the hydrogen compatibility of new and vintage non-steel materials. 

Further presentations explored the project's modelling activities and practical outcomes. Marina Cabrini, Full Professor of Science and Technology of Materials at the University of Bergamo, presented the main modelling approaches, results and lessons learned in identifying hydrogen-induced embrittlement in metallic materials. Jean-Baptiste Jorcin, Senior Researcher at TECNALIA, introduced the CANDHy Database, which compiles technical data on the compatibility of metals with hydrogen. Finally, Roberta Delia, Fracture and Fatigue Mechanics Engineer at RINA, presented the guidelines to assess the performance of non-steel metallic materials in pure hydrogen and hydrogen–natural gas mixtures. The workshop concluded with a Q&A session, allowing participants to raise questions, exchange views and share their feedback. 

As a proud CANDHy project partner, GERG was pleased to host both events and provide a platform for sharing the project's results, fostering knowledge exchange and addressing the technical challenges associated with the safe integration of hydrogen into existing gas infrastructure. Through its involvement in CANDHy, GERG continues to support the development and dissemination of technical knowledge needed to facilitate Europe's transition towards hydrogen-based energy systems. 

CANDHy project has received funding from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. This Partnership receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation program, Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority.

GERG — the European Gas Research Group — has outlined key research priorities for the safe deployment and operation of underground hydrogen storage (UHS) during European Hydrogen Week in Brussels. On October 28, Miguel Ballesteros, Programme Delivery Manager at GERG, represented the organisation at the side event “Underground H2 Storage: Enabling Europe’s Hydrogen Future through Large-Scale Storage”, organised by the European projects FrHyGe and EUH2STARS.  

During a roundtable discussion, GERG shared its R&D perspective on UHS, highlighting the key research areas that need to be prioritised to ensure safe and reliable storage as Europe moves towards large-scale hydrogen deployment,  considering energy security and the energy transition. GERG highlighted the role of underground storage in the Hydrogen Working Group, a network of more than 130 experts from over 35 organisations, in identifying and prioritising research topics in the GERG Hydrogen Research Roadmap. By bringing together expertise from across the industry, the group helps identify knowledge gaps and research needs that must be addressed to support the safe development and operation of UHS, via joint industry projects and knowledge exchange.  

GERG also shared its experience in commissioning and coordinating research projects on hydrogen safety, including the CEN H2PNR project, which has helped identify pre-normative research needs and evidence gaps to inform future standardisation. Finally, we highlighted GERG’s large portfolio of hydrogen projects along the whole value chain, with our leading role on impact and technical activities. 

GERG shared this panel with experts from industry, research and technical assurance to discuss safety, risk management and the conditions required for large-scale UHS deployment. The panel featured Benno Weinberger, Hydrogen Safety Expert at INERIS, Maxim Stein-Khokhlov, Head of Subsurface Facilities Storage at Uniper, Mike Johnson, VP Senior Principal Consultant at DNV, and Eddy Kuperus, Business Development Hydrogen Storage at Gasunie. Remco Groenenberg, Scientific Lead in UHS at TNO, moderated the session.  

The discussion explored key technical and operational challenges associated with UHS, including safety, risk management, remaining knowledge gaps and the research needed to support future deployment and standardisation. 

GERG thanks the FrHyGe and EUH2STARS projects for the invitation to share its expertise in safe UHS. The event provided a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge and discuss the deployment, operation and integration of UHS across Europe with leading experts, policymakers, industry representatives and members of both project consortia. 

Through its research activities and the work of its Hydrogen Working Group, GERG continues to help define research priorities and address knowledge gaps to support the safe and reliable deployment of UHS across Europe. 

GERG participated in ENNOH’s workshop on Hydrogen emissions: impact assessment and leak monitoring, detection and reduction, held on Tuesday, 13 October, in Brussels, Belgium, bringing together experts to discuss best practices for detecting, monitoring, and reducing hydrogen leaks. The European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen (ENNOH) organised the workshop.

Murès Zarea, Co-Chair of the GERG Emissions Working Group, represented GERG in a roundtable discussion focused on the latest developments in hydrogen emissions detection, quantification and monitoring.

He highlighted GERG’s involvement in prenormative metrology research on the hydrogen value chain by listing the 18 projects in which GERG and its members collaborate, particularly with EURAMET, the EU Association of National Metrology Institutes, and co-funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership or Horizon Europe. Other R&D gaps are also covered, such as material compatibility, leak tightness, integrity, and pipeline energy capacity. Click here to discover the content presented at the ENNOH Workshop.

NHYRA has a systemic approach to estimate hydrogen emissions along full value chains based on published prospective scenarios. These results contribute to better inform the work of other projects, like HYway, to estimate climate impacts of anthropogenic hydrogen emissions.

Concerning climate impact, he stressed the need to also measure more comprehensively the source term of natural hydrogen emissions, as this could represent a significant term in the overall balance, and therefore influence the effect of anthropogenic emissions.

Murès Zarea: "We can save significant time and resources when quantification or other approaches, like mitigation, apply similarly to both hydrogen and methane. An example is GERG’s current “High Flow Sampling performance evaluation” pre-normative collaborative R&D project: it evaluates performance of available & innovative HFS devices in lab tests, in controlled release tests, and in field tests. The results will feed standardisation work in CEN TC 264, (supporting the EU Methane Regulation), as the project will develop a performance evaluation procedure and a general procedure for standardised use of these devices. In parallel, NHyRA tests HFS devices for H2 with 100% H2. The learnings from the first project will save time and resources when it comes to adapting the HFS standards for methane use to hydrogen use.”

The panel also featured contributions from other key stakeholders, including Alessandro Arrigoni, Scientific Officer at the Joint Research Centre; Cristina López, Gas Detection & Methane Emissions R&D Project Manager at NaTran; Armin Wisthaler, Expert in Gas Analysis at the University of Oslo and Founder of adMS; and David Grainger, Senior Manager of Low Carbon Solutions at Equinor. Rod Robinson, Principal Research Scientist at the United Kingdom’s National Physical Laboratory, moderated the session.

The workshop provided an overview of the state of the art in hydrogen leak detection and monitoring technologies, highlighting ongoing research, development, and innovation initiatives. It also offered a valuable platform for an informed, evidence-based discussion on the climate impacts of hydrogen emissions and the approaches being developed to address them.

GERG’s participation in this high-level roundtable underscores the relevance of its work on hydrogen emissions detection, monitoring, quantification and reduction, as well as on a more systematic view of hydrogen emissions in different scenarios of hydrogen economy development (NHYRA project: Publications Archives - NHyRA).

GERG thanks ENNOH for the invitation and welcomes opportunities to contribute its technical expertise to the safe and reliable development of Europe’s hydrogen transmission system.

GERG - European Gas Research Group demonstrated its commitment to innovation in the hydrogen sector at the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Conference 2026 (EFCH₂ 2026), held in Capri, Italy, from September 15 to 17. GERG took a central role in the conference, showing GERG’s leading position in the sector, and presenting the latest findings from our activities related to hydrogen integration. As part of the programme, GERG  organised a dedicated session focused on three critical areas for the development of the hydrogen economy: accurate metrology, hydrogen emissions and the safe integration of hydrogen into existing gas infrastructure.

The session opened with a keynote presentation by Robert Judd, Secretary General of GERG, who highlighted GERG’s pioneering role in the hydrogen sector and its contribution to the decarbonisation of the energy system. With gaseous energy expected to remain an important component of the transition towards net zero, GERG is working to support the development of the technologies, knowledge and standards needed to enable the safe and effective use of hydrogen.

The session also featured Matteo Robino, co-chair of the GERG Hydrogen Working Group, who presented the activities of the group and the GERG Hydrogen Roadmap.

A key focus of the session was the presentation of ongoing GERG projects addressing the technical challenges associated with hydrogen deployment. Their activities cover a wide range of topics, from improving measurement capabilities and developing new approaches to hydrogen monitoring, to understanding emissions and supporting the safe integration of hydrogen into existing infrastructure. We thank all the speakers for the insightful presentations and all participants for contributing to the discussion during the workshop: Miguel Ballesteros (MetNH3Energy and SHIMMER), Ludovico Mazzocco (CANDHy and PilgrHYm), Pawel Kulaga (THOTH2), Alessandro Guzzini (H2FlowTrace), Vittoria Troisi (NHyRA), Rossella Urgnani (Hydra), Peter Rafaj (HYway) and David Blekhman (safety lessons Colton California).

GERG’s participation at EFCH₂ 2026 also provided an opportunity to meet with partners and stakeholders at the GERG booth. We discussed with experts from across the hydrogen sector about technologies, research and collaboration needed to turn hydrogen ambitions into reality.

From measurement and emissions monitoring to infrastructure integration and safety, the work presented at EFCH₂ 2026 reflects the broad scope of GERG’s hydrogen activities and its commitment to supporting innovation across the sector. By bringing together expertise, research and industry perspectives, GERG keeps creating knowledge and technologies needed for the safe and effective integration of hydrogen into Europe’s energy system.

Representatives of the GERG project HYSTIC (Hydrogen in Service Tightness Criteria) began on 9 July the project’s fitting tests at Kiwa’s facilities. Sander Lueb, Gas Technical Consultant at Kiwa, hosted Joshua Woods, Asset Engineer at Gas Networks Ireland; Yohan Laurent, from the Technical Centre for Mechanical Industries (CETIM), and Miguel Andriano, R&D Engineering Trainee at CETIM, representatives from HYSTIC partners.

The fittings tested – intended for use in monitoring and process lines at pressure-reducing stations – cover a wide range of diameters, and will undergo a comprehensive programme of type-approval testing. The tests include axial and flexural loads, vibration tests, temperature cycling, reassembly, and over-torque testing. Once these tests have been completed, the samples will be examined to verify their tightness against hydrogen leaks.

Fittings are one of the types of equipment being evaluated in HYSTIC, alongside flange gaskets, valves and pressure regulators. Through all these tests, the project will assess the sealing performance under operating conditions of various materials and equipment used in H₂ applications. Based on the test results, it will be possible to define realistic tightness classes for the different materials and equipment tested, along with the associated protocols. This work will help to compare the tightness performances of different types of equipment and in controlling the emission level of their installation.  

Projects like HYSTIC promote the uptake of hydrogen, but also tackle various engineering challenges related to a broader hydrogen introduction: Higher material permeability than methane, accelerated material degradation mechanisms, higher sealing and assembly precision requirements, and performance validation under dynamic operating conditions. By rigorously testing fittings across multiple stress scenarios, HYSTIC helps network operators understand which materials, designs, and installation practices are truly fit for hydrogen service. This knowledge directly supports safe conversion of existing gas infrastructure and reduces uncertainty for future investments. 

As Europe prepares its gas networks for hydrogen, every component — even small fittings — becomes critical. Hydrogen is a lighter, more diffusive molecule than natural gas, and ensuring leak‑tightness under real operating conditions is essential for network safety, reliability, and public confidence. Qualifying these fittings is therefore a foundational step toward large‑scale hydrogen integration. Hydrogen can also cause hydrogen embrittlement, which relates to a different fatigue behavior of the material, however considering this material is 316 stainless steel, which stable austenitic structure isn’t susceptible for hydrogen embrittlement due to gaseous hydrogen charging.

There is also a slight differences of the thermal expansion co-efficient of air and hydrogen at 100 bar where hydrogen is 15% higher, which would enable it to apply slightly higher stress on the material. However, due to difficulties with test set up this effect has been disregarded.

Last week, the European Gas Research Group (GERG) showcased its hydrogen research and innovation activities at the World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2026 (WHEC 2026), held in Singapore. From 22 to 25 June, Robert Judd, GERG’s Secretary General; Miguel Ballesteros, Programme Delivery Manager at GERG; and Haryani Mohamed, Finance and Administration Officer at GERG, presented GERG's wide-ranging portfolio of hydrogen initiatives, demonstrating the organisation's commitment to supporting hydrogen as a key pillar of Europe's energy transition.

On 23 June, Robert Judd presented GERG's Hydrogen Research Roadmap, a report identifying the remaining knowledge gaps across the hydrogen sector. The roadmap covers 172 research topics across the entire hydrogen value chain and reflects the expertise of the GERG Hydrogen Working Group, a network of more than 130 experts from over 35 organisations collaborating to identify and prioritise research to address current challenges. During his presentation, Dr Judd highlighted the importance of collaboration to ensure the safe and effective deployment of hydrogen. He stressed that infrastructure operators, researchers, manufacturers, standards bodies and technical experts must work together to develop the knowledge, evidence and practical solutions required to accelerate implementation.

"No single organisation can solve the hydrogen challenge alone. Progress depends on operators, researchers and technical experts working together to develop the understanding and solutions needed to accelerate implementation and commercial viability," said Dr Judd.

Dr Judd also presented the 11 hydrogen-related projects in which GERG participates as a partner, funded through the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and EURAMET - The European Association of National Metrology Institutes, programmes supported by the European Commission:  OPTHYCS, THOTH2, CANDHy, SHIMMER, PilgrHYm, NHyRA, MetHyTrucks, H2FlowTrace, SmartGasNet, CryoMet, and MetNH3Energy. Together, these projects address key research areas including metrology, gas quality, emissions, infrastructure integrity, traceability and pre-normative research, contributing to the development of the knowledge required for the large-scale deployment of hydrogen. Dr Judd also highlighted GERG's Joint Industry Projects (JIPs), which bridge the gap between research, industry needs and standardisation, supporting the development of future standards and operational practices.

Throughout the following days, GERG representatives provided dedicated presentations on several European Commission-supported projects, offering attendees a detailed overview of their objectives, latest developments and preliminary findings. Miguel Ballesteros and Robert Judd led the presentations during sessions, allowing them to outline the projects’ objectives, their progress, and findings.

GERG outlined the H2FlowTrace project, which aims to establish direct SI traceability for hydrogen gas grid flow-rate measurements. The presentation also highlighted the project's work to develop calibration services for hydrogen and hydrogen-enriched natural gas using both small- and large-scale mobile transfer skids.

Our representatives also presented a poster on MetNH3Energy, explaining how the project will establish reliable measurement techniques and standards across the entire ammonia value chain. By addressing existing measurement gaps and infrastructure challenges, the project will support the wider adoption of ammonia in both current and emerging energy applications.

Regarding THOTH2, GERG Secretariat highlighted how the project investigating the hydrogen tolerance of measurement devices already installed in gas distribution networks for monitoring the physical parameters of hydrogen-natural gas (H₂NG) blends. The presentation included an overview of the project's progress and ongoing testing campaigns involving gas meters, pressure sensors, leak detectors and other critical measurement devices.

Finally, GERG joined the Polish Gas and Oil Institute to present NHyRA, a project focused on developing protocols for hydrogen leak detection and hydrogen emissions quantification. The partners shared the first preliminary results of the project, highlighting the technologies and equipment selected to develop robust methods for assessing hydrogen leak detection.

Through its participation at WHEC 2026, GERG not only reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the energy transition but also demonstrated that collaboration remains essential for the safe and successful deployment of hydrogen. Across multiple research areas—including gas quality, metering, emissions, storage, asset integrity and operational practices—GERG continues to generate the science-based knowledge and technical evidence needed to integrate hydrogen safely and efficiently into existing gas infrastructure.

The European Gas Research Group (GERG) co-organised two workshops on Wednesday, April 29, alongside the 8th General Meeting of the European Metrology Network (EMN) for Energy Gases, and the EMN for Energy Gases Stakeholder Council Meeting held at the French National Laboratory of Metrology and Testing in Paris, France. The first workshop provided an update on the H2FlowTrace project at its midpoint, with a special emphasis on GERG’s role in the project’s impact. The second workshop, organised for the MetHyTrucks project, focused on outlining the project's results, which come to an end after 3 years of research. In addition to the projects’ results, GERG presented its hydrogen roadmap, which defines industry needs and future research priorities.

The day kicked off with the “Tracing Hydrogen, Tracing Progress: Mid-Project H2FlowTrace Workshop”, a session focused on H2FlowTrace’s progress and the challenges to be addressed in the second half to improve the traceability of pure hydrogen and hydrogen-natural gas (HENG) blends in gas networks. Miguel Ballesteros, Programme Delivery Manager at GERG, presented GERG’s work on H2FlowTrace, which focuses on creating impact to raise awareness of the project’s activities among relevant stakeholders and establishing contact with standardisation bodies, so they can adopt the results. Currently, GERG serves as the central hub for communicating about this initiative, having established a stakeholder committee with over 30 industry members, liaising with the GERG Hydrogen Working Group, the European Committee for Standardisation, and the EMN for Energy Gases, among others. Additionally, GERG will also play a key role in leveraging the results and guidelines for the calibration of flow meters and traceability for both small and large industries.

This was followed by the “Standardisation and Research outputs from MetHyTrucks”, organised by the MetHyTrucks project, which reviewed the results of a project that supports the adoption of hydrogen for heavy-duty transport and is set to conclude at the end of May. During the guest speaker session, Miguel Ballesteros and Tamara Sarac, Project Officer at GERG, presented the GERG Hydrogen Roadmap, a tool designed to identify research gaps and priorities in the hydrogen sector, in line with industry needs, while enabling collaborative research to remove those gaps.  Through the GERG Hydrogen Working Group members, which brings together several of the sector’s key experts, GERG is working on future proposals and projects that will foster the adoption of hydrogen for the energy transition in Europe.

In addition, Tamara Sarac represented GERG on the following day, April 30, at the 3rd meeting of the EMN for Energy Gases Stakeholder Council. At this meeting, members addressed the fundamental challenges to establishing renewable gases, such as hydrogen, biogas, biomethane and CO2 for carbon capture, utilisation and storage as a fuel source. Through their Strategic Research Agenda, the members reviewed the issues to be addressed regarding each of these gases in terms of gas quality, metering, and safe implementation to facilitate a reliable, safe and diverse energy network.

GERG’s contributions once again demonstrate GERG’s leading position in the fields of hydrogen, metrology, and pioneer projects for the green transition. GERG thanks EURAMET and EMN for Energy Gases for providing us with this platform to showcase our progress, as it allows us to connect with top-tier stakeholders working to ensure Europe’s energy transformation.

Representatives of the members of the European Gas Research Group (GERG) met on 15 and 16 April 2026 in Apeldoorn (the Netherlands) at the facilities of GERG member Kiwa. The meeting took place against the backdrop of the continued decarbonisation of the gas sector and the evolving role of gas infrastructure in supporting Europe’s energy transition.

The General Assembly served to inform GERG members about developments over the past six months and to discuss the next steps GERG must take to remain a strong and credible player within the European gas ecosystem.

On the first day of the meeting, GERG members analysed the medium‑term strategy to further strengthen GERG as the most recognised and trusted R&D association for gas in Europe and as the focal point for industry‑driven research. Discussions confirmed the importance of evidence‑based collaboration to support the safe and effective integration of decarbonised gases into existing and future infrastructure.

In addition, the activities of GERG’s working groups — hydrogen, biomethane, methane emissions, and Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) — were discussed. These working groups play a central role in setting research priorities for each domain, benefiting from the contributions of more than 200 experts across the GERG network. The agenda also included an update on key events where GERG will present its research during the year, including World Hydrogen Energy 2026, GASTECH 2026, and EGATEC 2026, among others.

The second day of the meeting was dedicated to technical visits, offering a more hands‑on perspective. GERG members began with a guided tour of the Kiwa laboratories, providing insight into the testing, methodologies, and technologies supporting innovation in gas and energy systems.

This was followed by a visit to the GROWH pilot project in Deventer, an initiative developing a complete local supply chain for the production, distribution, and use of green hydrogen. The project illustrates how research can be translated into real‑world solutions to decarbonise industry and support decentralised energy systems.

GERG continues to make strides towards shaping the future of gas, hydrogen, and decarbonised energy systems in Europe. Through its General Assemblies, GERG connects closely with its members to build a forward‑looking, evidence‑based perspective on the gas industry’s evolving role, reinforcing its position as a key pillar of the emerging decarbonised energy mix.

The European Gas Research Group (GERG) attended the Grid Ready Forum 2026 in Brussels (Belgium) last April 8 to formulate concrete measures to accelerate biomethane injection into Europe’s gas grids. GERG joined a group of 60 experts, gathering with EU policymakers, national regulators, grid operators and industry representatives in this event organised by the European Biogas Association.  

Robert Judd, GERG’s Secretary General, presented the BioSTaR2c project, which is revising the current standards on biomethane integration and removing technical barriers to the uptake of biomethane into gas networks and vehicles. The project’s results will generate robust, measurement-based scientific evidence on gas quality parameters. Specifically, it investigates the impact, concentration ranges, and variability of siloxanes on industrial boilers; sulphur on natural gas vehicles; oxygen on underground gas storage; corrosive compounds and hydrogen on compressed natural gas steel tanks.  

Aligned with the forum's main topics, GERG's results were well received by attendees, as the project addresses one of the main obstacles to the wider use of biomethane: the lack of harmonised standards for biomethane quality. Through these actions, BioSTAR2C will contribute to the development of a technical and scientific framework that will remove the technical and regulatory barriers to implementing biomethane. Furthermore, the project will contribute to a more cost-effective market entry, another key point discussed at the Forum. 

Robert Judd: “BioSTaR2C provides the technical evidence base needed for proportionate standards, efficient grid access and cost‑effective market entry for biomethane producers”

GERG is convinced of the importance of investing in biomethane, especially during this strategically crucial period to ensure that Europe is as competitive as possible in the transition to a fossil-fuel-free economy. For this reason, our work in the field of biomethane focuses on assessing current knowledge gaps that hinder the injection of renewable gas into the European energy system and its integration into regulations.  

GERG presented its High-Flow Sampling (HFS) project at the 4th Methane Mitigation Europe Summit 2026, held in Amsterdam (The Netherlands). Murès Zarea, co-chair of the GERG Methane Emissions Working Group, outlined the project’s objectives and highlighted its importance for improving methane emissions quantification across Europe’s gas sector.

Launched in December 2025, the HFS project aims to deliver quick, reliable, compliant, and cost‑effective quantification of fugitive methane leak rates. The initiative will support operators in meeting the requirements of the EU Methane Regulation and the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0 framework by providing a dependable method for reporting emissions and associated uncertainties.

A key ambition of the project is to accelerate the development of a standardised HFS methodology through the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). The project will also produce technical specification guidance to help companies integrate HFS into their operational practices. In parallel, it seeks to establish HFS as a proven alternative to traditional bagging techniques, offering significant cost savings and supporting the broader introduction of HFS technologies to the market.

To achieve these goals, the consortium will develop a comprehensive test programme and a draft common procedure for the use of HFS systems. The testing campaign will include:

• Laboratory tests
• Controlled experiments using traceable leaks
• Real‑world field measurements

This work will complement testing conducted by the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI). The resulting data will be analysed to determine uncertainty contributions, performance characteristics, and the influence of various factors—including test gas composition—on the calculation of methane emission rates.

“High‑Flow Sampling is a critical step toward harmonised, regulator‑credible methane quantification in Europe. By validating performance under controlled and real‑world conditions, this project will give operators the confidence and evidence they need to meet the EU Methane Regulation and OGMP 2.0 requirements,”, said Murès Zarea.

The HFS project is funded by GERG members, including Engie, Gassco, Gasunie, NaTran, Storengy, and delivered by the United Kingdom’s National Physical Laboratory, and Bureau Veritas. The consortium is currently seeking additional industry partners.

If you are interested in joining the HFS project, please contact:

mures.zarea@gerg.eu
secretariat@gerg.eu

GERG has opened the call for abstracts for the 12th edition of the Young Researchers’ Awards (YRA), which will recognise the best research project in the field of renewable, low-carbon gases and energy systems carried out by a postgraduate, PhD candidate or a PhD student. This award will be presented at the next edition of the European Gas Technology Conference 2026 (EGATEC 2026), to be held in Vienna, Austria, on November 25 and 26.

As in the previous 11 editions, YRA is looking for promising scientists who are developing solutions for the energy system of the future. YRA accepts projects aligned with one or more of the following topics: The Role of Renewable and Biogases in the Future Energy System, H2NG Admixtures and Network Integrity, Hydrogen Infrastructure, The Role of Biogas and Biomethane in Decarbonising the Energy System, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) & Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and Next Steps for the Gas Industry.

Procedure

Those interested in participating have until July 15 to submit their application. To do so, they must send a one-page abstract describing the work they would like to present (Word or OpenOffice format) and a short bio of 100 words to contact@gerg.eu. Next, an expert jury will evaluate the quality of the projects and select the YRA finalists by the end of August (approximate date). All finalists will be invited to the award ceremony at EGATEC 2026, where they will pitch their projects and participate in the poster session. After the pitches, the jury will select the winner of YRA 2026.

Advantages

The winner of YRA 2026 will receive a prize of €1,000. In addition, the finalists of YRA 2026 will be invited to the EGATEC conference, with support for travel and accommodation expenses up to a limit of €700. As mentioned above, the finalists will hold a poster presentation session, allowing for informal discussion with the jury and members of the EGATEC audience. The finalists will also pitch their project on stage in a 5-minute presentation to a jury composed of high-level professionals from the sector and conference attendees.

YRA offers early-career European researchers the opportunity to present their work in energy R&D and interact with representatives from the European gas industry, universities, companies, and other stakeholders. Participating and presenting their ideas in front of a high-level audience is a golden opportunity for all those young scientists committed to driving sustainability and innovation, who are taking their first steps and want to make their way in the energy research sector.

About YRA

YRA is a biennial competition that supports the emergence of the next generation of technical experts who will steward Europe’s energy system for decades to come. YRA is a biennial competition that fosters the emergence of the next generation of technical experts who will manage the European energy system in the coming decades. In turn, YRA serves as the primary source of talent for operators specialising in hydrogen behaviour, gas quality metrology, emissions quantification, flow modelling, CCUS monitoring, and advanced materials science. This award is widely recognised across industry and research networks, and often serves as a launch platform for future technical leaders, standardisation experts and EU project contributors. Winners gain visibility among Europe’s major gas infrastructure operators, laboratories, national metrology institutes and research organisations.

YRA promotes interaction between European universities and research centres on R&D topics related to the role of renewable and low-carbon gases and gas infrastructure in the transition to a sustainable energy future. The key objectives are to showcase and encourage the dialogue between industry practitioners and academia, enhancing cooperation between our different communities.  

You can check out previous editions of YRA at the following links: YRA 2024, YRA 2022, YRA 2019, YRA 2017, YRA 2015, and YRA 2014.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

On Wednesday, April 29, the H2FlowTrace and MetHyTrucks projects will organise a joint workshop in Paris (France), following the 8th General Meeting of the Euramet Metrology Network for Energy Gases. The workshop will be divided into two blocks, with the H2FlowTrace session in the morning and the MetHyTrucks session in the afternoon.

For the H2FlowTrace session, the leaders of the project's work packages will present their work. The presentations will focus on the transfer skids (small and large scale) for hydrogen flow traceability, and the bootstrapping method. You will also learn about the first step of traceability, the calibration of nozzles and master meters, as well as the test campaign with domestic and industrial gas meters.

In the case of the MetHyTrucks project, this presentation is particularly relevant, as the project will be completed this June. First, the process of hydrogen uptake in heavy-duty vehicles at hydrogen refuelling stations will be reviewed, from sample collection and validation to the development of guidelines and protocols for these samples. In addition, the outputs that will feed ongoing standardisation processes of hydrogen fuel sampling for heavy-duty applications will also be collected.

During the second part of the MetHyTrucks workshop, Tamara Sarac, Project Officer at GERG, will present the GERG hydrogen R&D roadmap. It summarises the work carried out with our members to prioritise research topics along the hydrogen supply chain.

The presence of GERG and of these two projects in which we are partners reflects the importance of the work we are doing to promote the uptake of hydrogen. If you would like to find out more about this work, please visit the workshop registration page by clicking here. You can also check the agendas for the H2FlowTrace and the MetHyTrucks workshops.

GERG will organise with beWarrant Tinexta Innovation Hub the workshop “Building a sustainable Hydrogen Economy: insights from HYDRA & NHyRA projects on Thursday, March 12 (3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., CET), focused on gathering the progress made by the NHyRA project. This workshop will be held as a side event of the European Hydrogen Energy Conference 2026, which is taking place in Seville (Spain). For this occasion, NHyRA will join forces with HYDRA, a project dedicated to examining the implications of widespread hydrogen adoption as a carbon-free energy source.

After a brief presentation of both projects, the first of three sessions scheduled for the day will begin. The first session, focusing on the hydrogen value chain and leakage points, will offer an overview of the value chain and the main emission points identified in NHyRA. It will also analyse the estimated hydrogen losses along the chain, presented by the HYDRA team.

During the second session, the focus will be on scenarios for the future hydrogen economy. To this end, the NHyRA project will look at the details behind the strategic planning of future hydrogen economies. The HYDRA consortium will review the possible hydrogen emissions in each scenario, while also considering the potential environmental risks and climate impact in each one of them.

The last session will be devoted to a practical perspective on technologies for detecting hydrogen leakages. NHyRA will present the evolution of the methodologies developed during the project for hydrogen leakage detection, as well as offering the first experimental results. In addition, the consortium will also explain its experience with leakage monitoring from electrolyser producers. On the other hand, HYDRA will explain the technologies developed in its project, together with the testing activities carried out with this technology.

After the sessions, it will be time for debate in this workshop, as partners from both projects will discuss some vital points in the construction of a safe and sustainable hydrogen value chain. The central issues of the debate will include the standards required for H₂ leak monitoring, viable mitigation measures, the integration of environmental aspects into hydrogen policies, dialogue between research, industry, and policymakers, and the priorities for future R&D efforts.

If you are interested in attending this workshop, remember that you can register either online or in person via this link.

GERG attended the Ready4H2 project annual plenary meeting, held in Bonn (Germany) on Wednesday, February 18. As a project partner, GERG attended the event through Ludovico Mazzocco, Project Officer at GERG, where the progress of the project entering its final phase was presented. Beyond the Plenary Meeting, the German Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) hosted a dedicated special workshop.

During the meeting, GERG had the opportunity to carry out a sniff test and smell the new Scentinel odorant from CPChem. This allowed us to experience the proposed hydrogen odorization and compare it with the odorant currently used for natural gas. Following this, a virtual site visit was foreseen, covering the research network simulation and the Bonn H₂ network, the conversion and H₂-ready turbines, as well as the test laboratory of the Gas Warming Institute.

GERG participated actively in the event, providing our valuable contribution to Ready4H2's technical and strategic activities. As this project is moving into a new phase, this meeting represents an important opportunity to align on next steps and further strengthen collaboration among partners.

Ready4H2 is a project that combines the hydrogen expertise and experience across more than 60 European gas distribution companies and national organisations. GERG is among the 7 partner associations of Ready4H2. This initiative aims to create a common understanding of the role of distribution networks in enabling the delivery of hydrogen for affordable, cleaner and decarbonised energy. To learn more, check out Ready4H2's website.

GERG participated as a speaker at the ENNOH H2 Quality Stakeholder Workshop on Thursday, February 12. Robert Judd, Secretary General at GERG, gave a presentation in which he reviewed some key insights on H2 quality drawn from our research and projects.

GERG was part of the group of stakeholders selected to take the floor, generating structured and valuable input to provide feedback on the Hydrogen Quality Public Consultation Groundwork Document, on which ENNOH will base its Hydrogen Quality Monitoring Report 2026. The workshop was part of a consultation process that will support ENNOH in assessing current and emerging challenges related to hydrogen purity and contaminants, understanding differences across national frameworks, and identifying areas where further convergence is needed. As mentioned, the consultation will inform the preparation of the Hydrogen Quality Monitoring Report 2026, contributing to future work on interoperability and data exchange at the European level.

GERG shared the stage with infrastructure operators, EU Commission representatives, ACER, industry associations, NGOs, industrial associations, NGOs, industrial consumers, standardisation bodies, producers and technology providers. Our presence at both the event and the consultation demonstrated the high standard of our research and GERG's reputation in the hydrogen sector. At GER, we appreciate the trust ENNOH has placed in us to collaborate on these initiatives that support the uptake of hydrogen in moving towards a more sustainable energy system.

For GERG, hydrogen gas quality is a critical enabler for the entire value chain. Evidence-based understanding of gas composition, impurities and their impacts is essential to support safe operation of infrastructure, local and cross-border hydrogen transport, and clear, reliable specifications for offtakers. Robust research and data are key to informing standards, reducing uncertainty and enabling scalable deployment of hydrogen networks across Europe.

Join GERG as a Master’s Student Intern in Energy Research

We are offering a hands-on internship starting in April 2026.  Join us to support European-funded energy projects, assisting with project DCE management, workshops, and stakeholder engagement.

Ideal for students with knowledge of energy systems (gas, hydrogen, biomethane, CCUS), an interest in policy and research communication, and strong project management skills.

Please submit your CV and cover letter to recruitment@gerg.eu

GERG attended the OPTHYCS final meeting on Thursday, December 11, at the facilities of our partner Enagás (Zaragoza, Spain). All partners attended the meeting to review the project’s three-year activity.  

GERG was represented by Ludovico Mazzocco, Project Officer at the organisation, and Jon Larratxea, Communication Officer. GERG has focused its work on the development of the communication, dissemination, and exploitation strategies to amplify the impact of the project. During his presentation, Mazzocco reviewed the actions taken to spread the word on OPTHYCS's work to key stakeholders, highlighting the presence of the project in events and social media.  

In addition to our presentation, the other lead partners of the OPTHYCS work packages presented the progress made in each of these areas over the past year. This meeting served to analyse the results of the work carried out at OPTHYCS. Now, it is time to finalise the last details and make sure that our results will lead to reinforcing the application of hydrogen, contributing to the decarbonization of energy generation, distribution, storage, and consumption. Finally, the host partner offered the partners a tour of its laboratories, where we were able to see how the work designed in the projects is tested in real life.   

Over the last three years, the European OPTHYCS project has developed fibre optic sensor technology that can detect hydrogen leaks. With this premise, the OPTHYCS project findings will lead to reinforcing the safety level of H2 applications, as well as to anticipate and therefore minimise H2 releases and limit an eventual climate impact. The project has been funded with €2.5 million by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, and has been composed of seven partners from three EU countries: Enagás (Spain, project leader), FEBUS Optics (France), Tecnalia (Spain),

Lumiker (Spain), NaTran (France), Fundación Hidrógeno Aragón (Spain) and GERG (Belgium).  

Our participation in projects such as OPTHYCS reinforces our commitment to deliver a competitive, secure and low-cost sustainable pathway to Europe’s energy transformation. GERG works with the European energy community to develop innovative solutions that ensure our gas infrastructure remains at the heart of the energy system and integral in our transition to a sustainable energy future. 

GERG participated in a technical workshop focused on hydrogen, organised by the French Technical Center for Mechanical Industries (Cetim) in Nantes (France) on Friday, 12 December. The workshop brought together a wide range of stakeholders who discussed the latest advances in the low-carbon hydrogen sector and its applications in industry. Simon Joyce, co-chair of GERG's Hydrogen Working Group (GERG H2 WG), represented us at this event, explaining some of the latest achievements and outcomes that this WG brings. 

In his presentation: “GERG's H2 research roadmap, technical vision and ongoing/finalised projects on hydrogen gas infrastructure,” Simon reviewed the methodology GERG members use to identify and prioritise research  gaps in the hydrogen sector, in line with industry needs. First, Simon presented the GERG Hydrogen Research Roadmap, a document for GERG members that analyses the priorities in the different research topics in the hydrogen sector, taking into account the views of those members. Simon recounted how this document has helped GERG prioritise the different research topics identified by GERG members, with a view to developing future projects and visualising industry needs. In addition, Simon highlighted that the roadmap has also allowed GERG to connect with other associations and funding programs, apart from liaising with standardisation bodies for pre-normative activities. 

After explaining how this methodology works, Simon reviewed the projects in which GERG is involved that relate to hydrogen. Currently, GERG is a partner in 11 EU-funded projects that are committed to increasing the use of hydrogen as a renewable energy source: OPTHYCS, THOTH2, CANDHy, SHIMMER, PilgrHYm, NHyRA,MetHyTrucks, H2FlowTrace, SmartGasNet, CryoMet, and MetNH3Energy.  

Afterwards, Simon explained in detail three projects that outline the work GERG supports in terms of research for greater hydrogen uptake. First, he analysed the Met4H2 project, finalised in September this year, which has provided outputs that support the development of new and improved standards for safe hydrogen application, flow measurement, hydrogen quality assessment, and custody transfer. Next, it was the turn of the CEN H2 PNR project, which researches requirements for the introduction of hydrogen in European natural gas grids. Finally, Simon introduced the EISMEA HyQualNet project, which started this year and is a joint project led by the German Institute of Standarization and Danish Standard  preparing for the European Committee of Standarization (CEN)  and European Electrotechnical Committee for Standardization (CENELEC)  standardisation on hydrogen. GERG is a partner of this project, which bundles technical knowledge relevant for standardisation by elaborating draft scopes and draft specifications for the relevant hydrogen quality topics related to gaseous hydrogen grids. 

Our presence at this workshop demonstrates the importance of GERG's work in the field of hydrogen, while highlighting the high level of research we help to carry out. Thanks to this presentation, we were able to showcase our work in the field of hydrogen to industrial stakeholders and academic experts, fostering dialogue and sharing insights. 

GERG attended the EU Hydrogen Research and Innovation Days 2025, held on November 24-25 in Brussels (Belgium). The project represented the OPTHYCS, THOTH2, and SHIMMER projects, which participated in this event. During these two days, our representatives were able to share our initiatives that aim to promote the use of hydrogen with experts, policymakers, and innovators to discuss the role of hydrogen in Europe's energy transition. 

On Monday 24, GERG attended the Clean Hydrogen Partnership Awards 2025, where our OPTHYCS project was nominated in the Best Innovation Award category. After a brief presentation of the project, OPTHYCS was not selected as the award winner, but it was shortlisted as a finalist project from among more than 100 projects (Presentation of the project: 3:39:20 – 3:39:32).  

On Tuesday 25, Ludovico Mazzocco, Project Officer at GERG, represented the THOTH2 project in the panel “Cross-Cutting Aspects – Safety and Pre-Normative Research for Standardisation.” During the session, Mazzocco presented THOTH2’s main lines of action, highlighting the project’s development of specialised methodologies essential for reliable and safe hydrogen integration. The project is contributing to covering gaps that will enable hydrogen to be distributed in the current gas transmission and distribution grids, developing new approaches to gas metering, gas volume conversion devices, pressure and temperature transducers, gas quality analysers, and gas leak detectors (Presentation of the project: 1:12:40 – 1:21:40). 

The SHIMMER project was also presented at the same panel session. Huib Blokland, director of energy transition projects at TNO, and GERG Board member, presented the consortium's progress in identifying the technical and regulatory gaps that still limit the safe integration of hydrogen into existing multi-gas networks across Europe. During his intervention, he presented the consortium’s progress in identifying the technical and regulatory gaps that still limit the safe integration of hydrogen into existing multi-gas networks across Europe. The presentation consisted of an overall review of the project, checking the carried out activities in each Work Package (Presentation of the project: 36:15 – 50:05).  

In addition, the OPTHYCS and NHyRA projects were also featured on this panel. In this case, both projects were presented by Alberto Garcia Hombrados, Project Officer in the Clean Hydrogen Partnership (CHP), as examples of initiatives sponsored by the CHP in the areas of safety, Pre-Normative Research on Standardization, and the promotion of regulations, codes, and standards (Presentation of the project: 28:30 – 30:30).  

In addition to our colleague Ludovico Mazzocco, our colleagues Miguel Ballesteros, Programme Delivery Manager, and Jon Larrachea, connected with policymakers, innovators, and stakeholders to amplify GERG’s impact in Europe’s energy transition. 

On Tuesday, June 18th 2024, GERG officially announced the handover of its presidency. Antony Green, former Vice President of GERG, assumed the role of President, succeeding Mures Zarea from the French Utility Engie, who served with distinction over the past five years. The presidency handover took place during the 6th European Gas Technology Conference – EGATEC 2024 in Hamburg, Germany.  

In his new role Antony will bring a wealth of experience and a decisive character to stand up for and promote GERG’s vision to ensure that Europe’s energy transformation will keep Europe competitive and energy secure while providing the lowest cost road to a sustainable future.

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Mures Zarea for his unwavering dedication and numerous contributions to GERG. Mures spearheaded the GERG Methane Emissions Working Group, which has been delivering exceptional work on acknowledging the importance of methane emissions in Europe’s transition towards a net zero environment. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping and propelling GERG’s mission and vision. A warm thank you from all GERG Members and Secretariat to Mures for these amazing 5 years.

A few words about our new President:

Antony has been leading the Future of Energy directorate at SGN since August 2023. Before that he was Hydrogen Director at National Gas. He has a 30-plus-year career across utilities and infrastructure and was instrumental in launching Project Union, NG's pioneering plan to create a UK hydrogen backbone.

Tony is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a past President of the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers.

Commenting on his appointment, Antony said:

“In our pursuit of a just and sustainable energy transition, the challenges we face resonate across Europe. GERG is playing a leading a role in this through close collaboration and shared learning, and I’m delighted to be representing the organisation through this critical period.”

GERG Secretary General Robert Judd said:  

“I am thrilled that Tony is stepping into this pivotal role, and to be working closely with him again. He already has a wealth of experience both in and outside GERG of driving collaboration across organisations and within Europe.

“Tony’s history of working in gas transmission and distribution within utilities and consultancy, will ensure he can effectively represent GERG members through the challenges of the energy transition.”

GERG welcomes the new President Antony Green and looks forward to tackle together the new challenges ahead. 

Hydrogen research takes a step forward with launch of the new EU funded project THOTH2. The project focuses on energy measurement value chain and instruments’ ability to accurately measure physical parameters of natural gas and hydrogen mixtures (H₂NG) with increasing hydrogen (H₂) percentages, up to 100%.

The Project - funded with almost 2 million euro over two and a half years by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership - is being carried out by thirteen partners: CESAME, ENAGAS, ENEA, FBK, GERG, GRTGAZ, GAZ-SYSTEM, INIG-PIB, INRIM, INRETE, METAS, SNAM and UNIBO.

More information about the project is available in the press release:

GERG – The European Gas Research Group will participate as associate partner in this year’s Baltic LNG & Gas Forum, which will be held at Amberton Hotel Klaipėda, in Klaipėda, Lithuania on 7-8 June 2023.

It is a two-day event bringing together regulators and industry decision makers to collaborate, engage, and map out the solutions for the energy demands of the Baltic region.

The agenda includes in-depth case studies on current and planned projects to create independent supply, expand infrastructure and build on existing plans to both ensure energy security and provide affordable low carbon energy with longevity. The event will bring together government officials, leaders from NOCs, TSOs, associations and more to discuss the timelines and impacts of new pipeline connections, FSRUs, and new terminals to ensure the regions gas supply.

For more information click here.

The Final THyGA Workshop has been hosted in Brussels on March 24th. 

For those who missed it, or would like to see it again, the recording of the Workshop is now available on the THyGA website  https://lnkd.in/eD497aRZ

The published results are also available on the THyGA website, and some final deliverables will be added within a month.

The beginning of 2023 has been marked by the launch of OPTHYCS, whose goal is to develop a new sensor technology that will lead to an increase in the safety level of H2 applications, as well as to anticipate eventual hydrogen application risks by minimizing potential H2 releases.

The Project is funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and is being carried out by seven partners: Enagas – which will also coordinate the project -, Aragon Hydrogen Foundation, Febus, GRTgaz, GERG, Lumiker and Tecnalia. 

More information about the project is available in the press release:

Last Friday, October 28, the Gender Equality Plan has been presented, discussed and approved at the GERG Board meeting.

GERG is striving to build policies that can achieve a Union of Equality, taking into account gender differences, but also those due to age, gender, religion, disability, or race.

Our GEP is presented as a set of guidelines that can give meaning to abstract intentions and promote equality in the work environment.

This initiative is part of a recent series of #GERG projects focusing on #top-down or #site-level technologies for measuring methane emissions.

Phase II.A consisted of a series of blind tests with above-ground controlled releases, to analyse the performance of twelve different technologies to quantify methane emissions, from which nine were top-down / site-level and three were bottom-up technologies.

From the nine top-down / site-level technologies tests, the following results were obtained:

• Three technologies obtained average errors below 50 %
• For those three technologies, the deployment of a helicopter or heavy truck is required
• In these tests, drones showed the lowest performance, due to the dispersion in the plume caused by the drone itself while measuring.

The findings demonstrate the need for further research to determine how these technologies can be used to reconcile with bottom-up estimates.

The complete report is available to GERG members who participated in the project.

See the presentation here:

This GERG project has successfully tested 11 different technologies to quantify methane emissions during May 2022 in a site in operation in Belgium.

The results of this project will contribute to achieve the target of the ‘Global Methane Pledge’ and to obtain the ‘OGMP 2.0 gold standard’, a voluntary initiative coordinated by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The initiative aims at increasing the knowledge on the reconciliation process, a key step to improve accuracy of methane emissions estimations in the gas sector.

More information in the press release:

The 10th edition of the GERG Young Researchers Awards will take place this June in association with the EGATEC conference.

Open to post-graduate students working towards a PhD or Master’s degree, the competition will see ten finalists selected for a fully-funded participation to the EGATEC Conference, with the opportunity to hold a poster presentation and a session of 5-minute pitches in front of the conference audience. After the presentations, three winners will be selected by the jury. Applications are open until the 14th of March!

THyGA: Testing Hydrogen admixtures for Gas Appliances

Hydrogen as a carbon-free fuel will play a major role in future energy supply, e.g., as an admixture gas in natural gas grids. How will the different physical and chemical properties of hydrogen-enriched natural gas impact residential and commercial gas appliances?

In our recently published paper, Jörg Leicher et al. explain the impacts of hydrogen on natural-gas fired domestic and commercial appliances from the perspective of combustion science, including emissions, safety and performance.

The paper is available online and free for download.

Read the paper in open access

Aligned with the European Commission strategy to reduce methane emissions in the EU and the Global Methane Pledge, GERG has joined efforts with ENTSOG, eurogas, GIE and marcogaz  to develop a paper shedding light on the actions taken by the gas sytem operators to mitigate methane emissions.  

We can see that further research remains paramount to improving methane leak detection, estimation and quantification, and the European gas sector is pulling together to reach those objectives. 

After a rewarding phase I of the GERG project 'Technology Benchmark for site level methane emissions quantification', the phase II.A. is already going on.

This next phase of the project consists of a series of blind tests with above-ground controlled releases.  The objective is to analyse the accuracy and repeatability of the most promising site level technologies to quantify methane emissions.  

The tests successfully took place last week in Spain, where 12 different technologies were tested: 

• 9 Top-down / site-level technologies
• 3 bottom-up technologies

You can read the press release here:

GERG recently became Member of MARCOGAZ, the Technical Association of the European Gas Industry. The close collaboration between our two associations, however, dates back decades! GERG was founded in 1961 and seven years later in 1968 MARCOGAZ was born. Both associations have worked together since the beginning for shaping the future of gas industry. Our collaboration is essential and unique as Marcogaz represents the technical wing of the gas industry and we are its research arm.

This complementary and cooperative approach has led to substantial synergies which have benefited the industry, from technical and R&D reports (such as the MEEM report) to the joint organisation of the biennial #EGATEC conferences. We continue to work closely with MARCOGAZ on our three research priorities: reduction of methane emissions, introduction of biomethane and development of hydrogen in the grid.

We look forward to continuing working hand-in-hand for a decarbonised European energy system.

The THyGA project (Testing Hydrogen Admixture for Gas Appliances) is moving forward. Read the newsletter to learn more about the latest results of the project:

• All public deliverables for Work Package 2 about the Status of gas utilisation technologies.
• The status of experimental work and testing protocols.
• The successful webinar about the impact of hydrogen blending on certification and standardization current framework.
• Hydrogen industry news.

You can register to receive future updates about the THyGA project.

GERG, along with 11 other associations, has signed a statement calling for binding 2030 EU-level objectives in lowering the greenhouse gas intensity of gas consumed in Europe and an increase of the demand for renewable gases, especially hydrogen and biomethane.

The signatories propose that by 2030 the greenhouse gas intensity of the gaseous energy consumed in Europe be reduced by at least 20% compared with 2018 level. This can be accomplished by injecting renewable gases (defined in line with the criteria of RED II) in the existing network. Signatories also propose that renewable gases represent 11% of energy content of the total gas consumed in Europe in 2030.

Finally, we recommend an increased coordination between member state in areas needing effective and rapid implementation, especially with regards to research, innovation and new technology development. Sharing knowledge and working together on this complex issue is necessary!

The signatories:

• CEDEC
• COGEN
• EBA
• GasNaturally
• Eurogas
• GIE
• EHI
• IDA
• NGVA
• GD4S
• Liquid Gas Europe

Work Package 4, dedicated to the study of the impact of hydrogen admixture on standardization and certification recentlty published its first public deliverable: D4.1. On this occasion, a workshop was organised to gather experts of certifacation and standardization but also manufacters.

More than 30 experts were around the table and discussed the questions of the impact of blending on the current standardization and certification framework. Those fruitful disucssions has been recorded and are now available:

You can dowload all the presentation on the THyGA website.

CORP organise on June 2-3 2021 the first worldwide summit about Natural Hydrogen.

Natural hydrogen, as opposed to "coloured" hydrogens, refers to the raw hydrogen found in nature in the form of the H2 molecule. Exploiting these natural hydrogen fields has many possibilities, which will be discussed in this 1st NaturalHydrogen Worldwide Summit.

The summit will bring together the key players of the natural H2 industry, and 600 online attendees. A program of high-level conferences with 60 speakers and over 30 workshops will offer in-depth insights on the topic.​

The Methane Guiding Principles group is a coalition of industry, international institutions, non-governmental organisations and academics. The main goal of the coalition is enshrined in the first of the five so-called Principles:

1. Continually reduce methane emissions

2. Advance strong performance across the gas supply chain

3. Improve accuracy of methane emissions data

4. Advocate sound policy and regulations on methane emissions

5. Increase transparency

Methane emissions have long been a research priority for GERG: the Methane Emissions Estimation Methodology project (MEEM), for example, has been the foundation of work ongoing today on a robust approach to emissions estimation. We are happy to contribute our strong R&D expertise on this international effort to reduce methane emissions.

The European Biogas Association joins GERG and GERG joins EBA!

EBA is the leading European association in the field of biogas and biomethane, committed to the development of renewable gas in Europe. EBA works closely with the different stakeholder of the biogas and biomethane sectors to develop policies which enable a scale-up of the renewable gases productions and other added values products. To accomplish this mission, EBA promotes R&D actions and technologies development.

This reciprocal membership will create strong synergies, as biomethane is a core priority for GERG.

The Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) project "Testing Hydrogen admixture for Gas Appliances", aka THyGA, is proud to release the latest deliverable of Work Package 2 about the development of the test programme for hydrogen admixture in gas-fired appliances.

Deliverable D2.5 presents the different steps in the development of the test programme, with a focus on the fruitful exchanges between THyGA partners and external stakeholders, in particular manufacturers. Learn more and read deliverable D2.5.

The Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) project "Testing Hydrogen admixture for Gas Appliances", aka THyGA, is proud to release the second deliverable about the impact of hydrogen admixture on combustion processes. This time, the report explores the expected impact of H2NG on a range of appliance designs installed in the EU.

After the deliverable D2.2, dedicated to the theorical estimation of the impact of H2 admixture, THyGA reviews results from the litterature to evaluate available knowledge on CO and NOx formation, overheating, flame temperature, flashback, H2 leakage, operational implications and efficiency of appliances supplied with H2NG blends. Learn more and read deliverable D2.3.

The Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) project "Testing Hydrogen admixture for Gas Appliances", aka THyGA, is proud to release a new deliverable about Market segmentation of domestic and commercial NaturalGas appliances.

The Deliverable D2.1: Market segmentation of domestic and commercial natural gas appliances shows which gas appliances are more widely installed today in the EU, per end-use category. This data will allow THyGA project partners to test a representative selection of burners, boilers and other appliances for various H2/NG blends.

The Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) project "Testing Hydrogen admixture for Gas Appliances", aka THyGA, is proud to release a new deliverable about the Certification & Standardization Framework for hydrogen admixture in natural gas.

Read the deliverable D4.1: Certification & Standardization Framework to learn more about the current certification and testing standardization framework for both residential and commercial appliances, and how it would be impacted by the use of hydrogen/natural gas blends.

📢 In our second major project announcement of 2021, GERG is very pleased to announce the approval by the European Commission and CEN of the European Commission funded project on pre-normative research requirements for the introduction of hydrogen into our gas networks. This is a yet another step forward in our work to support the acceleration of the decarbonisation of Europe’s gas networks and the industry’s contribution to GHG reduction targets.

📑 In development of this project, we worked closely with the European Commission’s Energy Directorate and CEN Technical Committee TC234 (Gas Infrastructure), who in turn involved stakeholders from across the CEN TCs and the wider gas and energy community to agree on eight priority areas for study. These are safety, gas quality, underground storage, power generation, industrial use, steel pipes, network equipment and appliances. The eight priorities relate closely to the height of the barrier to hydrogen introduction. A GERG member company will lead on each of the eight priorities.

A Supervisory Board formed as a new Working Group within CEN TC234 will oversee the programme. The work will analyse the current state of knowledge, building on earlier projects such has the GERG Hydrogen in Pipeline Systems (HIPS) report. It will then look closely at gaps in knowledge, particularly in relation to standardisation needs, and recommend pre-normative research actions to accelerate the removal of the gaps. The work looks at both H2 blends and “100%” hydrogen systems.

GERG consists of members of the gas industry and research and academia from over 12 countries, and began its work to define gas industry requirements for the introduction of hydrogen around two decades ago. We are closely associated with many of the major actors in the development of the hydrogen roadmap, including Hydrogen Europe Research (a reciprocal member). GERG is also an active member of many hydrogen-focused initiatives at European level.

💡 The GERG member community is really happy to be delivering this project for CEN, and will bring the expertise and knowledge of more than 20 operating gas companies and research institutes and universities, as well as the vast expertise of the CEN TC234-based Supervisory Board. We will link closely with other initiatives both in Europe and worldwide, and draw on developing knowledge in other ongoing projects to ensure as far as possible that the results are both comprehensive and unique.

The project will run until November 2021, and will receive funding of €1.1M from the European Commission via CEN.

📢 GERG is very pleased to announce the approval by the European Commission and CEN of the second phase of its major European Commission funded project on removing the technical barriers to the introduction of biomethane into gas networks and gas appliances (including vehicles). The project supports the acceleration of the decarbonisation of Europe’s gas networks and helps to improve the contribution of the industry to GHG reduction targets.

💡 The workplan has been developed in close collaboration with CEN Technical Committee, CEN TC408, and a Supervisory Board chaired by TC408 will oversee the work. CEN 408 develops and maintains standards associated with the introduction of biomethane in gas networks, and the use of natural gas and biomethane in vehicles. This work will enable the revision of the associated standards and ensure they are fit for purpose and not detrimental to the development of the biomethane industry which is an important element of the European Commission decarbonisation strategy and the Green Deal.

Following successful delivery of the first €1,3M Phase of the Project in 2019, this €1,8M contract, the second of three, will begin detailed experimental campaigns on siloxanes, sulphur and oxygen (particularly in relation to underground storage). It will also commence work on further detailed understanding of European Biomethane compositions, particularly at the trace component level, in the context of optimising upgrading and purification processes.  A third, overlapping phase of work, worth a further €3M and completing the work programmes is expected to commence later this year.

GERG consists of members of the gas industry and research and academia from over 12 countries, and has long-term and continuing links to gas biomethane actors in Europe (including the members of EBA-European Biogas Association, NGVA Europe- Natural & bio Gas Vehicle Association, Eurogas and Marcogaz), and also has connections to appliance manufacturers and end-users groups.

The unique GERG perspective will contribute not only to a consensus position with respect to the individual challenges, but a high probability of understanding any outlying positions from a production and network impact perspective.  The work will be completed at member laboratories around Europe, and will be led technically by ENGIE.

📢 On November 23rd, the new OGMP2.0 framework was launched. This methane emission reporting framework is the new gold standard that will improve the accuracy of reporting focusing on the whole Oil&Gas value chain including midstream and downstream.

The OGMP partnership is an initiative of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) led by the United Nation Environment Program (UNEP), the European Commission and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

How many compagnies are involved?

❓ 62 companies from all continents representing 30% of the world's Oil&Gas production have already joined the partnership.

💡 GERG, with its industry members, recently developed a Methane Emissions Estimation Methodology project (MEEM) for DSOs, that has assessed all international best practice and has used this to develop a consistent and robust approach to emissions estimation which can be used as an industry standard.

💡 The Marcogaz assessment paper which is based on MEEM expanded using Marcogaz’ 2005 methodology for TSOs, LNG terminals and UGS, is currently the basis of a new European Standards Agency (CEN)  working group to turn the approach into a CEN Technical Report. We expect this to be used as a standardized methodology in the OGMP 2.0 scheme as a foundation for a framework for reporting in the downstream gas value chain.

📧 Contact us if you are interested in knowing more about our work on understanding and mitigating methane emissions in the downstream gas industry.

The Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) project "Testing Hydrogen admixture for Gas Appliances", or THyGA organised its third online workshop: IMPACT OF HYDROGEN ADMIXTURE ON RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL COMBUSTION PROCESSES the 30th of October 2020.

🎉This webinar was a success with more than 260 attendees, and we would like to thank the participants for the interesting exchanges they had with the THyGA team!

Do you want more information on the impact of hydrogen admixture on combustion processes?

➡ Visit the THyGA site to learn more about the webinar and download the deliverable:  WEBINAR “IMPACT OF HYDROGEN ADMIXTURE ON RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL COMBUSTION PROCESSES INSIGHTS FROM COMBUSTION SCIENCE”

The Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) project "Testing Hydrogen admixture for Gas Appliances", or THyGA organised its second online workshop: MATERIALS SCIENCE - IMPACTS OF HYDROGEN BLENDS the 26th of October 2020.

🎉This webinar was a success with more than 210 attendees, and we would like to thank the participants for the interesting exchanges they had with the THyGA team!

❓ Do you want more information on the impact of hydrogen admixture on materials?

➡ Visit the THyGA site to learn more about the webinar and download the deliverable:  Webinar “MATERIALS SCIENCE – IMPACTS OF HYDROGEN BLENDS”

📢 HyResource is the new single source of information on key hydrogen-related organisations, policies and projects in Australia with supporting information on New Zealand. A collaboration between National Energy Resources Australia (NERA), CSIRO, Australian Hydrogen Council and Future Fuels CRC, HyResource acts as a reliable source of information that can be accessed by all stakeholders involved in the development of Australia’s hydrogen industry.

💡 The benefits of this hydrogen knowledge sharing initiative include reducing search costs, filling stakeholder knowledge gaps and helping accelerate the development and deployment of clean hydrogen as a low-emissions energy source.

🔄 Knowledge sharing efforts like HyResource are critical at this time as developments in hydrogen across the full value chain are evolving at speed and impacting many sectors of the economy.

🔍 HyResource is available here: https://research.csiro.au/hyresource/

Latest News from GERG for the 2020 Summer period: Hydrogen Strategy, updates from Working Groups and projects, project proposals and event summaries.

Read here

For membership-exclusive content, visit the GERG Community site!

The great ACT project ELEGANCY, led by Sintef, is coming to a close this summer, and has prepared a flourish of webinars for all interested in Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage:

• 18 June: Hydrogen and CCS – one of the cornerstones of the European Green Deal
• 19 June: Unlocking opportunities and addressing challenges for large-scale hydrogen provision in Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Norway
• 22 June: Hydrogen supply and CO2 injection and storage
• 23 June: Business case development and hydrogen-CCS chain tool

The webinars are free of charge, more information and registration on: https://blog.sintef.com/sintefenergy/elegancy-webinar-series-on-ccs-and-hydrogen/.

The Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) project "Testing Hydrogen admixture for Gas Appliances", or THyGA, is organising its first online workshop the 6th of May 2020 (10.00/12.00 AM and 1.00/3.00 PM CET, incl. virtual lunch break).

To get the connection information, please send your confirmation of attendance to contact_thyga@engie.com.

The workshop will present first research results, and discuss the specific consequences of hydrogen blending for the gas appliances sector, with the participation of researchers, manufacturers and associations.

Agenda:

• Insight on THyGA’s first research contents
• EU market segmentation of gas appliances
• Focus topic: development of a protocol for testing H2 admixture
• Discussion of the testing procedure of gas appliances with manufacturers, researchers and associations
• Discussion and questions related to the addressed topics
  

Download the invitation below:

Latest News from GERG for the 2020 Spring period: Moving forward under the COVID-19 regime, Project updates, New project proposals and Events.

Below a document presenting projects currently open to new partners:

• Assessment of methane emission from gas utilisation
• Sparcling Phase 2, LFL distances for small scale representative LNG releases
• Weathering of stored LNG

Latest News from GERG for the 2019 Winter period: Hydrogen Momentum, Project updates, New project proposals and Events.

Download our last newsletter here !

Murès Zarea of Engie has been elected to replace Isabelle Moretti as President of GERG, with official transfer of duties during the Board meeting in Copenhagen.  Murès has over 30 years of gas R&D experience and a long association with GERG. He also sits on the Board or in high level committees in other associations such as EASE, EPRG PRCI and IGU. As such he is perfectly placed to build more bridges for GERG in the gas and energy research community.  We welcome Murès, and look forward to working closely with him over the coming years.