The problem of large-scale hydrogen transportation in natural gas pipeline network has been solved

On March 22, the outcome conference of the Feasibility Study Report on Hydrogen Transportation and Terminal Utilization of Natural Gas Pipelines (hereinafter referred to as the "Report") was held in Beijing.

The report pointed out that the current natural gas hydrogen blending technology can make full use of the existing mature natural gas pipeline network infrastructure, which is conducive to the realization of long-distance, low-cost transportation and large-scale storage of hydrogen energy, and alleviate the pressure on natural gas supply. At the same time, it is conducive to reducing the terminal carbon emission intensity and realizing the introduction of hydrogen into 10,000 households. "The decline in the price of green hydrogen is an inevitable requirement for the large-scale development of hydrogen-doped natural gas in the future." In the optimistic scenario, it will enter the commercial introduction phase around 2026 and the commercial application phase in 2042."

"In terms of technical feasibility, the hydrogen mixing ratio can reach 10% after evaluation at this stage, and it can be further increased to 20%-30% after partial renovation, while higher hydrogen mixing ratio needs experimental verification and analysis, and there is a lack of systematic evaluation methods and data." Beijing gas thermal Engineering Design Institute Co., Ltd. Dao Shi Research Institute chief engineer Wang Hongjian analysis.

Liu Heming, chairman of the China City Gas Association, said that China's natural gas hydrogen blending industry has broad prospects for development, but it is still necessary to strengthen the research and layout of natural gas hydrogen blending demonstration projects under the principle of government guidance, enterprise-led, multi-participation and benefit sharing, in order to promote the large-scale development of natural gas hydrogen blending industry.

■■ Solve the mismatch between consumption and supply and demand

Hydrogen blending technology of natural gas can not only achieve large-scale storage of hydrogen energy, but also deliver hydrogen efficiently and at low cost, which is an effective way to reduce carbon emission intensity in the process of natural gas utilization and ensure the safety of gas supply. Under the "double carbon" goal, the demand for natural gas as a low-carbon fossil energy source is still gradually increasing. "The construction of natural gas pipelines will be vigorously developed, and the possibility of providing development space for hydrogen energy storage and transportation has become the consensus of the participants."

The development of natural gas hydrogen blending technology can also achieve large-scale hydrogen energy storage and effectively solve the problem of large-scale renewable energy consumption.

The report pointed out that according to China's current natural gas consumption calculation, when the proportion of natural gas hydrogen is 10%, it has more than 3 million tons/year of hydrogen consumption capacity, and consumes more than 170 billion degrees of green electricity, so as to further improve the penetration rate of renewable energy in the energy production structure. In addition, hydrogen mixing in natural gas pipelines also has the ability to cross-season and cross-regional long-term energy storage, and it is expected that by 2030, the scale of hydrogen mixing in natural gas pipelines will reach 1/5 of pumped storage.

Peng Shiyao, a hydrogen energy technical expert of the General Institute of Science and Technology Research of the National Pipeline Network Group, pointed out that the natural gas pipeline network and gas storage are very large "peak regulating plants", which can be used as a demonstration of hydrogen peak regulating. "Making full use of the advantages of the national pipeline network is the best solution to the large-scale application of hydrogen energy." Hydrogen-doped and pure hydrogen pipeline transportation will become a new business growth point, and it is expected that the pipeline hydrogen transport volume will account for 20%, about 300 billion standard square, which can solve the problem of resource mismatch and peak regulation demand."

Yu Wentao, deputy director of the carbon neutral Research Center of the National Power Investment Group Science and Technology Research Institute Co., LTD., said that hydrogen mixing in natural gas pipelines also plays an important role in green electricity conversion, and natural gas hydrogen mixing technology can transport the "green hydrogen" produced by renewable energy to the user terminal through the natural gas pipeline network, and natural gas pipeline transportation can greatly reduce the cost of hydrogen transportation. Solve the industrial plugging point of hydrogen transport cost in green electricity conversion. "At present, China's natural gas pipeline network system framework has been formed, the main natural gas pipeline is 110,000 kilometers long, and the gas transmission capacity is strong. The use of mature natural gas pipeline facilities to transport hydrogen-doped natural gas can strengthen the deep integration of the 'grid and gas network' to achieve large-scale, long-distance and low-cost hydrogen energy transportation."

■■ The industry is still in its infancy

The report also sets out future development goals. That is, during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, it is expected that there will be 15-25 new hydrogen mixing demonstration projects in natural gas pipelines, with a hydrogen mixing ratio of 3%-20%, and a hydrogen consumption of 150,000 tons/year, with a total length of more than 1,000 kilometers. Among them, there are 2-5 hydrogen blending demonstration projects for new growth natural gas pipelines, with a hydrogen blending ratio of 3%, and a hydrogen absorption capacity of 100,000 tons/year, with a total length of more than 800 kilometers. 10-20 new urban gas hydrogen mixing demonstration projects, hydrogen mixing ratio of 3%-20%, hydrogen consumption of 50,000 tons/year, the total length of more than 200 kilometers. End users have achieved regional demonstration applications of hydrogen-doped natural gas for civil use, with a total number of users exceeding 10,000. In addition, 1-2 industrial boilers, large heating boilers, gas turbines and other large equipment demonstration applications.

Experts attending the meeting said that hydrogen blending technology of natural gas has the technical and economic feasibility of large-scale promotion and application, and China's natural gas pipeline network has the capacity of large-scale hydrogen energy transportation, but to achieve the above goals, there are still many challenges.

Liu Heming believes that the development of hydrogen blending technology of natural gas faces three challenges: first, the top-level design also needs relevant special planning and standard system research; Second, there are risks such as blending uniformity and material compatibility in the pipe network; Third, there are effects on fuel interchangeability and safety in terminal utilization. "In the natural gas pipeline hydrogen transportation and terminal utilization, our country should have its own development roadmap."

Wang Hongjian pointed out that China's natural gas hydrogen blending industry started late but developed fast, although a number of demonstration projects have been laid out, but most of them are in the early stage of research, and the relevant technical indicators and achievements are less and lack of systematic sorting.

"At present, the standardization of hydrogen blending of natural gas is also in its infancy, and a small number of group standards are being promoted. The lack of national standards also restricts the promotion and application of hydrogen blending technology in natural gas pipelines to a certain extent." Wang Hongjian special emphasis.

Peng Shiyao also believes that the existing domestic natural gas hydrogen blending projects are mostly in the research and demonstration stage. "Domestic demonstration projects are mainly gas terminal applications, and the safety range of hydrogen mixing ratio in long-distance or medium-high pressure pipelines is still unclear, and there is a lack of technical achievements that can be used for reference."

"Large-scale use of hydrogen, long-distance pipeline function is essential. Storage and transportation is not an obstacle to the large-scale development of China's hydrogen energy industry, and the cost of hydrogen transmission accounts for 40%-50% of the terminal price. In the future, we will also focus on key technologies such as long-distance, high-pressure hydrogen-doped pure hydrogen pipeline transportation and underground gas storage for hydrogen storage to further reduce costs." Peng Shiyao said.

■■ Formulate industrial development plan

The development of hydrogen-doped transmission and terminal utilization of natural gas pipelines involves many subjects such as the government, middle and downstream enterprises of natural gas, middle and upstream enterprises of hydrogen energy, scientific research institutes and design institutes, and key equipment manufacturing enterprises. How to solve existing problems and challenges?

At present, some countries have carried out the initial promotion of hydrogen-doped natural gas technology, but the existing research and practice results can not be fully standardized, and it is still actively promoted. Due to the different levels of technological development in different countries, it is necessary to fully consider the research level of China's hydrogen-doped natural gas system, make up for the deficiencies in the existing theoretical research and practical operation of hydrogen-doped natural gas, and explore suggestions suitable for hydrogen-doped natural gas transportation in China.

The report pointed out that through the formulation of a special plan for hydrogen pipeline transportation, the large-scale application of natural gas hydrogen blending can be promoted as a whole, and a roadmap for the development of the natural gas hydrogen blending industry suitable for national conditions can be formulated.

Wang Hongjian believes that the research on China's hydrogen-doped natural gas pipeline transmission demonstration project is gradually being carried out, the strategic overall planning at the national level is less, the relevant technical standards are not perfect, and the corresponding laws and regulations, industrial policies and other supporting support also need to be improved. "Therefore, in order to achieve the high-quality development goal of the natural gas hydrogen blending industry, it is necessary to plan and deploy the construction of natural gas hydrogen blending transportation system, determine the relevant technical indicators of China's natural gas hydrogen blending pipeline transportation, and improve the policy guarantee system of natural gas hydrogen blending technology."

At the same time of development, it is necessary to establish and improve the safety supervision, technology and operation management standard system of the natural gas hydrogen blending industry in line with China's national conditions to ensure the healthy, safe and orderly development of the natural gas hydrogen blending industry.

The report suggests that subsidy policies and financial policies for the whole industrial chain of hydrogen blending of natural gas can be increased. We will continue to pursue market-led and policy-driven policies in parallel, and gradually establish a scientific and reasonable mechanism for subsidizing and reversing declines.

"In the future, it is also necessary to cultivate complex innovative talents, establish an international engineering technology research center, strengthen the research of natural gas hydrogen mixing shutdown technology, and achieve hydrogen into 10,000." "Wang Hongjian said.