Italian TSO Blends Gases for Industrial Users

Italy's gas transmission system operator Snam has blended hydrogen with methane for delivery to two industrial users, it said April 1, claiming a European first. The experimental tests will last for about a month.

Hydrogen accounts for just 5% of the total volume carried in the pipelines of Contursi Terme, in the province of Salerno, southern Italy. The gas will go to two industrial companies in the area: a pasta factory and a mineral water bottling company, it said. 

Hydrogen will play a crucial role in securing the achievement of European and global decarbonisation targets by 2050.  “Green” hydrogen produced through electrolysis from renewables such as sun and wind will allow these non-despatchable energy sources to help fill gas pipelines and storage facilities, Snam said.

The head of Hydrogen Europe, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, said most of the green hydrogen from solar would be produced in north Africa.

Applying a proportion of 5% of hydrogen to the total gas transported annually by Snam, 3.5bn m3/yr could be injected into the network, or the demand of 1.5mn households. This would cut carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5mn metric tons.

According to a recent study by the consultancy firm Navigant, Europe has the potential to produce 270bn m3 of renewable gas (around 170bn m3 of hydrogen and 100bn m3 of methane). This would support the achievement of decarbonisation targets thanks to existing infrastructure, with annual savings of €217bn ($244bn) compared with a scenario that foresees a minimum gas contribution, said Snam, part of the group that commissioned the report.

In the UK there are plans to have a bigger percentage of hydrogen in the gas pipeline network, with up to 20% hydrogen deemed to be safe, meaning the level might be raised in Italy too.