The project THyGA (Testing Hydrogen Admixtures for Gas Appliances) has launched today, with a first meeting at the GERG office in Brussels. THyGA has been awarded backing from the EU’s Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020 under its Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU).

Blending hydrogen and natural gas is one of the solutions to decarbonise the energy system. For a wide adoption of H2NG (hydrogen in natural gas) blends, their impact on residential and commercial gas appliances has to be comprehensively studied. The THyGA project will assess this technical impact, evaluating safety, efficiency, lifetime, and environmental performance.

The project consortium will also identify and recommend appropriate codes and standards that should be adapted to answer the needs of the new gas system, and develop a strategy for addressing the challenges for new and existing appliances.​

The project consortium is composed of nine partners from six European countries, including associations, laboratories, gas value chain companies, and manufacturers representing different applications (cooking, heating). The project is coordinated by French energy company Engie.

Read the full press release:

2017-18 marked a year when the ideas of an integrated, sector-coupled energy system really took hold. Focus on gas innovation has placed gas firmly in a low-carbon, more integrated energy system, and the work that GERG is doing increasingly reflects this focus. 
Please consult the Activity Report for details on GERG achievements during this past year. 

Since 2015 and the publication of the Sector Forum Energy Management Working Group Hydrogen Report, major improvements have been made and new projects and relevant initiatives launched.

This 2018 update report summarises the key outcomes of SFEM/WG Hydrogen activities in the period 2015-2018. Recommendations are given on proposed actions and means of implementation. The near term key challenges, which are the outcome of a prioritisation exercise, are visualised in a roadmap. We are proud of the continuous engagement of GERG experts in this initiative.

Project leader Marine Juge, from ENGIE, gave a presentation during the European Gas Technology Conference (EGATEC). This presentation includes updates on Phase 2a results of the GERG Biomethane project, and an overview of the next steps.

Combustion controlled condensing boilers (CCCB) are a technology that can provide a high flexibility in the use of gases from different sources and renewable production (biomethane and hydrogen). This project produced a review of the technical background, standardisation, and market for CCCB, and conducted appliance tests.  

Please find below the Management Summary and Final Report of the Project.  

The project Methane Emission Estimation Method for the Gas Distribution Grid (MEEM) is the second phase of the project Analysing the Methods for Determination of Methane Emissions of the Gas Distribution Grid that was initiated in November 2014 by GERG members. The aim of the project was to improve the accuracy and reliability of national emission estimations, to increase the transparency of the associated results, and to provide a basis for a consistent methane emission estimation. 

Please find below the Management Summary of the project, the Final Report and Final Presentation.  

This presentation outlines the context, aim, and approach of the Elegancy project. Through several case studies, evaluation methodologies and business cases, the partners will work to fast-track the decarbonisation of Europe’s energy system by exploiting the synergies between two key low-carbon technologies: CCS and H2. 

This presentation outlines the context, objectives and programme of the GERG Biomethane project while focusing on trace components in biomethane.  
The aim of the GERG biomethane project is to gather technical information regarding the impact of biomethane trace components on gas infrastructures and on the end-users’ equipment and propose a revision of the standards using strong technical arguments. This would greatly support the development of a viable and sustainable growth industry for biomethane injected in gas networks.  

In order to support the decarbonisation of the energy system, stakeholders are considering the accommodation of hydrogen (e.g. from Power-to-Gas) in the natural gas grid. With HYREADY Guidelines, transmission and distribution system operators (TSOs and DSOs) can prepare their natural gas networks and operations for the injection of hydrogen, both pure and as a gas component, with acceptable consequences. The guidelines will be based on existing knowledge and particularly address practical questions, including a sound balance between mitigation measures and remaining consequences.

This presentation defines the objectives and programme of this project, led by DNVGL, that focuses on the safety implications of LNG dispersion from small-scale LNG infrastructure. 

The Sparcling project (formerly DisJet), is an experimental and numerical project, led by Engie, that aims to better assess the consequences of an accidental LNG release and mitigate hazards close to public small-scale LNG applications. 

This presentation outlines the objectives and benefits of this GERG project led by Royal Dutch Shell and Belgian gas infrastructure company, Fluxys. 

Key outcomes of this report include the priority challenges that have been identified for the various technical areas within the scope of work of the SFEM/WG Hydrogen. Recommendations are given on proposed actions and means of implementation. The actions are visualised in an action roadmap in which actions are prioritised and with the required timespan indicated. Other outcomes include a clarification of expectations of industry of where and how policy and standardization can contribute to a competitive development of PtH and related issues. For more information refer to the final report of the Sector Forum Energy Management, Working Group Hydrogen (SFEM/WG Hydrogen) in the link below.

The project was initiated by E.ON New Build and Technology GmbH, under the auspices of GERG, and has been conducted on behalf of a consortium of interested parties from a range of relevant industry sectors, including: the gas industry; energy transmission; power generation; equipment manufacturers; and institutes.  
The results of this study show that an admixture of up to 10% by volume of hydrogen to natural gas is possible in some parts of the natural gas system. It also highlights areas where issues remain such as underground rock porous stockage; steel tanks in natural gas vehicles; gas turbines and engines; and measurement methods.