GIE sets out policies needed to spur hydrogen blending

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), representing around 70 gas infrastructure operators from 27 countries, published a position paper on November 24 outlining what policies were needed to encourage hydrogen blending.

Hydrogen blending is more affordable than constructing dedicated hydrogen networks and can help more energy consumers decarbonise and faster, GIE said. But legislation is needed to create an explicit regulatory framework for hydrogen blending, and gas infrastructure operators should adequately be remunerated for their investments, it said. Furthermore, interoperability should be guaranteed at interconnection points, and local and specific solutions should be allowed to take into account regional specificities.

Further investigation into the technical possibilities for blending should be supported with continued research and development and advanced gas quality handling tools, GIE said.

GIE system operation and development area sponsor, Francisco de la Flor, said gas infrastructure operators "stand ready to integrate hydrogen blends into their systems as quick as necessary where this option is chosen."

"They have the technical expertise to guarantee the unhindered gas flow across borders, while also considering regional specificities," he said. "Exploiting the benefits of hydrogen blending is a great opportunity we should not miss to accelerate the decarbonisation of our energy system."