Ineos to inject hydrogen in UK gas pipe

Chemicals company Ineos will inject hydrogen into a 29-km section of decommissioned gas pipeline linking its Grangemouth site and Granton, it said on May 4.

The hydrogen supplied from the Grangemouth site in Scotland to the SGN project will help determine how existing natural gas networks can be repurposed for hydrogen, Ineos said. SGN manages the network that distributes natural and green gas to 5.9mn homes and businesses across the south of England and Scotland.

“We believe that Grangemouth is the ideal location in Scotland to create a hub for hydrogen production, use and export. This trial, in partnership with SGN, will play an important role in helping to make hydrogen distribution networks a reality,” Andrew Gardner, chairman Ineos Grangemouth said. The trial is funded by the Energy Regulator and gas distribution companies.

“Our Local Transmission System is part of the national critical infrastructure that reaches millions of homes and businesses across the UK. So, repurposing it for hydrogen could support a hydrogen system transformation that is least cost and least disruptive to customers,” SGN director of energy futures Gus Mcintosh said.

Ineos in January announced the next step in its plans to build a low-carbon hydrogen plant at Grangemouth as it commits to being net-zero by 2045. This trial will help improve an understanding of existing networks and the suitability to deliver hydrogen as a clean alternative to natural gas, to homes and businesses, the company said.