Delgaz Grid, part of the E.ON group in Romania, will soon launch three pilot projects aimed at contributing to the development of the green gases sector and decarbonization solutions, the company announced in a press release.

The first project, BioMethaneMix, aims to obtain biomethane by the processing of biogas through conditioning steps (produced in wastewater treatment plants/industrial platforms), validating the process steps from a technical point of view, and injecting biomethane into a section of a natural gas supply system.

For a minimum period of six months, the supply of a biomethane-natural gas blend will be tested following the model of functional pilot projects implemented at the European level. The testing will involve measuring volumes and analyzing the quality of the mixture for billing purposes, using advanced monitoring technology.

The project will be implemented starting next year and is expected to be completed in 2027.

'Our pilot projects are essential to the future of Romania's gas industry. We are testing the compatibility and proper functioning of natural gas distribution system components — including the network and end-user installations — with blends of natural gas and varying concentrations of hydrogen. The aim is to prepare the infrastructure to support the energy transition by adapting existing networks to become H2-ready and ensuring that all future networks are designed as H2-ready from the outset,' Cristian Secosan, general manager of Delgaz Grid, was quoted as saying in the press release.

The second project, BlendUp30, aims to validate, through 'time testing,' the conclusions of the 20HyGrid project regarding the compatibility and proper functioning of natural gas supply system components with gas mixtures and different hydrogen concentrations.

At the same time, the goal is to assess and ensure that the handling of appliances operating with these mixtures is risk-free. The tests will be carried out over a minimum period of 6 months, on three sections of the existing network, with different tubular materials (steel, polyethylene-PE 100 and PE 80), in three different locations, continuously supplied with this mixture. The estimated period for the project is 2026-2028.

The third project, called HyGrid100, aims to test 100% hydrogen on a section of the existing natural gas supply system, made of PE 100 but with new appliances compatible with pure hydrogen (thermal power plants). In the first stage, these tests will be carried out in a controlled environment at the Delgaz Grid test site in Medias. After confirming that the tests at the test site have been carried out safely, they will continue, in the second stage, on a section of the operational network, to which domestic consumers are connected, who will have new appliances installed that are compatible with pure hydrogen. The functioning of the distribution network, the appliances, and the behavior of the appliances/combustion process with pure hydrogen will be checked. This project is expected to be completed in 2028, according to the cited source.

Through 30HyGrid, the company aims to test household appliances (cooking appliances, central heating systems) without modifying them, using a mixture in which the concentration of hydrogen in natural gas is 20 vol.%, which has already been tested, is increased to 30 vol.% and 35 vol.% respectively (the maximum value up to which no modifications are necessary, according to the conclusions of tests in Western European countries). At the same time, most non-domestic customer categories will be tested with mixtures of 23 vol.% and 30 vol.% hydrogen in natural gas.

'The development of these types of projects will contribute to increasing experience and expertise in this field, with a view to developing legislation in this area and promoting green and low-carbon energy. At the same time, it will lead to an increase in the production of green gases and equipment (electrolyzers, biogas conditioning plants, etc.), and as a result, we can expect the price of green gases and equipment to fall significantly within 5-10 years. Thus, green energy will become increasingly accessible, and customers will benefit from quality services at a reasonable price compared to fossil fuels, but with a significantly reduced carbon footprint,' said Cristian Calin, Director of Green Gas Programs and Decarbonization Solutions at Delgaz Grid. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Andreea Marinescu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)