2011-04-18 Three heating seasons of injection of hydrogen in natural gas on Ameland

After three heating seasons the injection of hydrogen in natural gas on Wadden Sea island Ameland has stopped on Monday the 4th of April. Pipelines, meters, boilers and cooking appliances have never before been exposed to a hydrogen-natural gas mixture for such a long time. Currently the pipelines, meters, boilers and cooking devices are tested by Kiwa Gas Technology.

The parts originate project Sustainable Ameland. The aim of this project is to inject up to 20% hydrogen into Dutch natural gas to obtain knowledge regarding the behaviour of the existing gas grid and existing gas appliances.

This pilot project has taken place in a small scale natural gas grid in the town of Nes. The residents of apartment complex Noorderlicht have heated and cooked on a hydrogen-natural gas mixture. A part of the existing grid was disconnected and fed by means of a new installed hydrogen-natural gas blender during the project. The existing gas grid, extended with a test pipeline containing various materials and connections, has been exposed to the hydrogen-natural gas mixture. The residents of apartment complex Noorderlicht heated and cooked on boilers and cooking appliances certified for the sake of the project. The experiences and opinion of the end-users is an important part of the pilot project.

The Netherlands strive for a more sustainable energy mix and efficient energy consumption. Hydrogen, which is one of the energy carriers of the future, plays an important role in this respect. The use of hydrogen, produced in a sustainable way on a large scale considerably reduces the CO2 emissions. Injection of hydrogen in natural gas is a first step in the transition to sustainable gases.

The project is commissioned by GasTerra, Joulz and Stedin.

For more information, please contact Hans de Laat (hans.de.laat@kiwa.nl), Mathijs Kippers (mathijs.kippers@kiwa.nl) or René Hermkens (rene.hermkens@kiwa.nl).