NATURALHY

The NATURALHY-project: Preparing

for the hydrogen economy by using the
existing natural gas system as a catalyst

Rolinda Huizing, project co-ordination

N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie
Department Gasunie Research
Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
Gasunie: started in 1963 on top of the Groningen gas field (the Netherlands)

Shell ExxonMobil Dutch State

25% 25% 50%

11,000 km pipeline
N.V. Nederlandse Euro 12,000 million sales
Euro 36.3 million Net Profit
Gasunie Staff 1300

Trade & Supply

NATURALHY

The NATURALHY-project: Preparing

for the hydrogen economy by using the
existing natural gas system as a catalyst

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

Main political drivers towards hydrogen:

• Improvement of the energy security
• Reduction of the CO2-emission (Kyoto,
> 8% reduction by 2010)
• Improvement of regional air quality

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

The transition to the hydrogen-economy will be

lengthy, costly and will require significant R&D

PRACTICAL STRATEGY
Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

Opportunity for natural gas

Smooth and short term introduction of H2 into the
society at relatively low costs by using the existing
widespread natural gas system for mixtures of
natural gas and H2

However, …… : NATURALHY-project

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

Adding H2 to natural gas affects the physical and

chemical properties and might have impact on:
• Safety aspects of transmission – distribution - end use
• Pipeline durability
• Pipeline integrity
• End user appliances’ performance

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

The main objective:

Preparing for the hydrogen economy by identifying and
removing the potential barriers regarding the
introduction of hydrogen into the society, using the
existing natural gas system as a catalyst

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

Characteristics
• 39 European partners, including 15 from the
gas-business
• Integrated Project within FP6
• Project budget 17.3 M€, EC-grant 11 M€
• Start ~01-05-2004, duration 5 years

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

The involvement of a broad consortium from the

European gas industry is important because:
• Differences in the pipeline systems;
• Differences in the composition of the gases;
• Gas companies are very careful with changes (some call
it “conservative”);
• To obtain the support of all stakeholders.

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
 Parties
NATURALHY Gas companies and gas research institutes
financed by gas companies
GERG Gasunie
Gaz de France Statoil
DEPA Naturgas Midt-Nord
IGDAS TRANSCO
DBI Shell Hydrogen
IFP Total
BP
DGC Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
 Parties (continued)
NATURALHY

Manufacturers and consultants

CMI TOG GE CETH SAVIKO Exergia SQS

Universities and Institutes

Technical University Berlin Nat. Techn. Univ. Athens
Leeds University, Loughborough University
Hogskolan/Boras Tubitak
NTNU UP Metz
Univ. of Warwick ISQ
NEN COGEN ECN HSE TNO CEA PLANET CSM
Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY
List of members of the Strategic Advisory Group
(under development)
GERG IGU WWF IEA CEN ENGVA
Health Safety Executive
HYWAYS & HYSAFE
The Carbon Trust
Ruhrgas
Bellona
Ministries of Economic Affairs and Environment of the
Netherlands
European Commission and the European Parliament
EU-Platform for hydrogen and fuel cells
…. Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
 H2 PRODUCTION
NATURALHY

The field of the NATURALHY -PROJECT

Natural gas
Transmission grid

Low pressure
distribution grid

H2-
membrane

-
Full H2 area

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

Main Deliverables:
• Assessment tool
• Membranes for H2 separation
• Socio-Economic and LC Assessments
• Enthusiasm of the stakeholders

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY Work packages Naturalhy

WP 1 Life Cycle and socio-

economic Assessment

WP 2 Safety

WP 3 Durability

WP 6 Decision Support Tool Final

WP 4 Integrity project
results

WP 5 End Use

WP 7 Dissemination

WP 8 Project Management

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
 NATURALHY Future

HYWAYS
Environment
Roadmap devel., Stakeholders
techn. mapping

Dissemination
Socio-economic
(in cooperation
& LCA
with HYSAFE)

Natural H2-Membranes
gas source
Gas transmission, storage End user infra
and distribution system structure & appliances

Integrity Safety Standards Durability Safety

H2-production
and norms
plant Durability Performance

Prepared by
O. Florisson
NATURALHY-PROJECT
Gasunie
NATURALHY

Demands infrastructure regarding:

• Safety
• Security of supply (quantity and quality)
• The extent of the grid
• Acceptance by the end user & enthusiasm of the gas company

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

Regarding the safety work:

Approach: adaptation of existing safety models for natural gas
Limitation to 0-50% H2 in natural gas
Planned large scale experiments :
Gas Build-up and Explosions in Confined/Vented Enclosures
Gas Build-up and Explosions in Congested Regions
High Pressure Jet Fires
Pipeline Fires
Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY
Comparison of the main risk aspects of hydrogen
versus natural gas

Physical aspect Impact on risk

(H2-n.g.)
Energy content /m3 -
Ignition energy +
Combustible gas/air ratios +
Combustion velocity +
Radiation of flames -
Small leaks +
Total ? Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY Main deliverable: Decision Support Tool

Costs to
overcome the
consequences
of adding
hydrogen to
natural gas

% of hydrogen added to the natural gas

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

Project organisation:
Full Consortium
Work Package Committees
Project Executive Committee
Strategic Advisory Committee

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

Natural gas, the bridge to a sustainable

energy system
The NATURALHY-project, the natural
approach to prepare for hydrogen as an
energy carrier

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

Transmission and distribution of

gas and more in particular of
hydrogen are complex matters!

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
 Chicken and egg dilemma:
NATURALHY

H2- transmission
and distribution
infrastructures

H2- production H2- demand

capacity

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
 Vision policy makers
NATURALHY

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

H2

Vision Naturalhy

H2

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
 NATURALHY

NATURALHY-project: breaks the chicken

and egg dilemma:
Smooth and low cost introduction of hydrogen
into the society by using the existing natural
gas infrastructure

Prepared by
O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY
Many persons have contributed to the definition of
the NATURALHY-project, including
Dave Pinchbeck (GERG)
Nigel Mortimer (Sheffield Hallam / Warwick
University)
Geoff Hankinson (Loughborough University)
Costa Komodromos (University of Warwick)
Isabelle Alliat, Mures Zarea and Remi Batisse (Gaz de
France)
Peter Bartlam (ISQ)
Onno Florisson and Rolinda Huizing (Gasunie)
Prepared by
Arend de Groot (ECN) and ……… O. Florisson
Gasunie
NATURALHY

Contact information
Deputy Project Co-ordinator Naturalhy
Rolinda Huizing
+31 50 521 2239
Project Co-ordinator Naturalhy
Onno Florisson
+31 50 521 2651
www.gasunieresearch.nl
Naturalhy@gasunie.nl