H2/SNG quality requirements

This LAP is concerned with the measurement, monitoring, metering and billing basis for hydrogen based SNG (via methanation) injected and transported within the gas grid at DSO or TSO level

Glossary:

Requirements related to the quality of SNG from (in relation to the composition of the gas(blend) as well as its physical property
Hydrogen quality is a term to describe the gas quality for use in the natural gas grid.
Is it a barrier?
Yes, Neutral
Type of Barrier
Economic barriers
Assessment Severity
2

Questions:

Question 1 Is the legislation with regard to injection of Methane (SNG) via methanation from hydrogen the same as for hydrogen? if yes, question 2-5 are the same as for category 7, application 1: injection of hydrogen in the gas grid and do not have to be answered
Not clarified yet BUT following the so far used approach, yess, since if one injects upgraded SNG at natural gas quality it is regarded as injection of natural gas because the quality is the same like natural gas, whereas hydrogen changes the gross calorific value, hence the Wobbe index, thus there are other provisions needed
Question 2 What is the basis for the billing of SNG from hydrogen and SNG from Hydrogen Natural Gas Mixtures? Only the energy flow (kWh) or are other properties involved?
In Austria it is the energy content expressed in kWh. There is a capacity component included in the transportation tariffs but this component is not linked to the SNG as such but to the required energy per time unit
Question 3 What are the legal and administrative requirements and responsibilities with regard to real-time Measurement Technologies for the monitoring and billing of SNG from hydrogen Natural-Gas Mixtures? Do they differ from the requirements for natural gas?
They do not differ from natural gas (so upgraded SNG which meets the quality of natural gas) but they have to differ from hydrogen natural gas mixtures – although not clarified yet – as long as the hydrogen natural gas mixture is not equal to the specified natural gas quality. The TSO/DSO is responsible for the safe and reliable operation of the grid, hence the TSO/DSO accepts gas (mixtures) at the specified quality only otherwise there might be huge problems regarding billing and operation of the grid. The TSO/DSO is metering the amount of the gas (metering device which is not counting the volume only but the volume per time unit = capacity as well) and the quality with a gas–phase chromatograph
Question 4 Are there other, SNG from hydrogen quality related, legal and administrative requirements to allow the injection of SNG from hydrogen in the grid?
As long as the upgraded SNG–quality meets the specification requirements there are no other legal and administrative requirements
Question 5 How is the responsibility in your country organized with regard to the measurement and other injection related quality requirements? Is this the responsibility of the producer, the TSO/DSO or a third party?
It is up to the TSO/DSO to measure/check the volumes and quality of the injected gas(mixture but it is up to the producer to supply the mixture at the specified quality. The costs for the metering device and the quality control, device have to be borne by the SNG producer if the TSO/DSO is the owner of the devices otherwise the SNG producer has to purchase the devices and the TSO/DSO has to check the data. )

National legislation:

EU Legislation:

  • Directive 2009/73/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas
    Directive 2009/73/EC establishes common rules for the transmission, distribution, supply and storage of natural gas.

    Its provisions and obligations apply to Hydrogen Gas by virtue of Article 1 (2), which states that the rules established by this Directive for natural gas, including LNG, shall also apply in a non–discriminatory way to biogas and gas from biomass or other types of gas in so far as such gases can technically and safely be injected into, and transported through, the natural gas system.

    Article 25 establishes the “Tasks of the distribution system operator” which include: ensuring the long-term ability of the system to meet reasonable demands for the distribution of gas […];shall provide any other distribution, transmission, LNG, and/or storage system operator with sufficient information […] as well as to ensure that the system operator does not discriminate between system users or classes of system including, including e.g. when setting rules for the charging of system users, etc

    Article 32 sets the rules on “Third party access”: access to the transmission and distribution system, and LNG facilities shall be based on published tariffs, applicable to all eligible customers, including supply undertakings, and applied objectively and without discrimination between system users.
  • Regulation 715/2009 on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks
    Regulation 715/2009 sets non-discriminatory rules for access conditions to (a) natural gas transmission systems; (b) LNG facilities and storage facilities taking into account the special characteristics of national and regional markets

    To achieve this, it sets harmonised principles for tariffs, or the methodologies underlying their calculation, for access to the network, but not to storage facilities, the establishment of third-party access services and harmonised principles for capacity-allocation and congestion-management, the determination of transparency requirements, balancing rules and imbalance charges, and the facilitation of capacity trading.
  • Regulation (EC) No 713/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing an Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators
    Article 1 Project matter and scope
    This regulation aims at:
    (a) setting non–discriminatory rules for access conditions to natural gas transmission systems taking into account the special characteristics of national and regional markets with a view to ensuring the proper functioning of the internal market in gas;

    Article 8 “Tasks as regards terms and conditions for access to and operational security of cross border infrastructure
  • Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/703 of 30 April 2015 establishing a network code on interoperability and data exchange rules
    The network code on interoperability aligns the complex technical procedures used by network operators within the EU, and possibly with network operators in the Energy Community and other countries neighbouring the EU.Article 7, Measurement principles for gas quantity and quality. In addition to interconnection points, Article 17 shall apply to other points on transmission network where the gas quality is measured. Article 18 shall apply to transmission systems. This Regulation may also apply at entry points from and exit points to third countries, subject to the decision of the national authorities.