The two studies include Enbridge’s transmission system and FortisBC’s distribution system, both located in British Columbia, Canada.
These studies will be used to develop the codes and standards required to safely transport hydrogen as the first step in forming a sustainable commercial hydrogen market.
Individual studies will be undertaken for both sets of assets, recognising the components and systems in place. Collectively, the studies will build a knowledge base to establish the safety, technical, and economic requirements needed to identify and introduce the best and safest hydrogen concentration levels for the system. The entire gas supply value chain will be examined, from hydrogen injection points to end-user delivery points on the pipeline systems.
“Blending clean hydrogen with natural gas is a key step in the energy transition, and the work DNV is undertaking for Enbridge and FortisBC will help to decarbonise the energy supply in British Columbia and provide a framework for future hydrogen blending projects globally,” said Richard S. Barnes, region president, Energy Systems North America at DNV.
When injected into the natural gas grid or distributed into new or converted infrastructure, hydrogen can be a renewable and low-carbon fuel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop a low carbon-energy economy.
“At Enbridge, we are working hard to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon intensity of the energy we transport," said Cynthia Hansen, Enbridge executive vice president and president, gas transmission and midstream. "One way we're doing this is by using our existing energy infrastructure to transport low-carbon forms of energy such as hydrogen. This important study will play a critical role in determining how existing energy infrastructure can be used to transport hydrogen and how we can continue to work to advance the energy transition.”
“FortisBC recognises that we have a critical role to play in helping our customers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing new energy options that can be delivered safely and reliably through our existing gas system. Our long-term vision is to have hydrogen be part of our renewable and low-carbon gas supply, and collaboration with industry and government in research such as this is a pivotal step toward finding the safest way of making that vision a reality,” said Roger Dall'Antonia, president and CEO, FortisBC.