27 November 2023

Follow-up HyDelta program focusses on tangible hydrogen application

This month marks the start of the third phase of the public-private hydrogen research program HyDelta. HyDelta 3 focuses on the economic and technical integration of hydrogen gas into the national gas transportation and distribution system. As part of the HyDelta consortium, Kiwa is taking on a significant number of work packages within HyDelta 3.

Internationally, there has been a growing realization in recent years that the production and application of CO₂-neutral hydrogen will be an essential part of the energy transition. Initiatives have been taken in the Netherlands, both from the business sector and policy-wise, to establish a hydrogen economy. However, the development of this hydrogen economy is still in its early stages. Numerous questions remain unanswered, ranging from technical issues surrounding production and the adaptability of hydrogen in the transportation and storage system to questions about its economic and legal aspects.

Applicable solutions

Partly for this reason, the HyDelta consortium was formed in 2020 on the initiative of Gasunie and Netbeheer Nederland. HyDelta focuses on directly applicable solutions for the transport and use of hydrogen. In addition to Gasunie and Netbeheer Nederland, HyDelta includes New Energy Coalition (coordinator), DNV, TNO, and Kiwa. The results of the HyDelta program are public and freely available, attracting global interest. HyDelta 3 has a duration of one year.

New challenges

During the first two research phases within the HyDelta program, new challenges emerged that need to be addressed to make the right choices for investments in infrastructure and to safely work with hydrogen:

  • Asset management: Hydrogen gas quality and reuse of offshore infrastructure;
  • Economy and society: Deployment of (temporary) self-sufficient hydrogen areas and sharing of revenues and risks;
  • NOx and emissions: Greenhouse effects of hydrogen and the role of ammonia;
  • Value chain and system development: Standardization of units, digitalization, the value chain within the manufacturing industry for hydrogen infrastructure and spatial planning;
  • Technology and safety: Recommendations for safely handling hydrogen in the energy network.

Kiwa work packages

From the above challenges, HyDelta has distilled several so called work packages, of which Kiwa takes on eight:

  • HyDelta3 WP1a Gas quality of hydrogen gas;
  • Hydelta3 WP3a Greenhouse effects of hydrogen;
  • Hydelta3 WP4a Standardization (creating 'common business practice');
  • Hydelta3 WP5a QRA purging;
  • Hydelta3 WP5b Leaks;
  • Hydelta3 WP5c Gas bubbles;
  • Hydelta3 WP5d Permeation risk;
  • Hydelta3 WP5e Dust and ventilation.

Commitment

Sjoerd Delnooz, Kiwa's energy transition expert and unit manager of Kiwa Technology, looks forward to this new phase in the HyDelta program. ‘Kiwa is committed to HyDelta 3, where we have the opportunity to fully utilize our expertise in every aspect of the hydrogen system: from production and transport to storage and distribution. With specialists in safety, energy infrastructure, materials, and gas quality, Kiwa is an authority in gases, including hydrogen. It's fantastic that we can make a tangible contribution to the HyDelta program and the economic and technical integration of hydrogen into the national gas transportation and distribution system.’