A First in Romania: 20HyGrid Pilot Project

The 20HyGrid pilot project, launched for the first time in Romania, aims to determine the level of hydrogen compatibility of the components of the existing natural gas distribution network and the installations and appliances used by household customers.

The Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti is part of the 20HyGrid pilot project as a partner, for testing the use of natural gas and hydrogen mixture in the distribution network of Delgaz Grid, member of the E.ON Romania.

The tests are taking place in the range of the Professional Training Centre in Medias, where Delgaz Grid has started testing the operation of the natural gas appliances and of the distribution network with a mixture of 80% natural gas and 20% hydrogen. In the coming period, the company’s team of specialists will be testing the tightness of network components, combustion, and operating parameters for various types of household appliances, such as boilers, stoves, convectors, and hot water appliances. The tests will be carried out both on existing appliances installed before and after 2015 and on new generation appliances prepared for 20% hydrogen blending.

Delgaz Grid’s partners in this project are six major manufacturers of boilers and stoves, thus ensuring a very good representativeness in the tests.

Delgaz Grid’s tests are based on experience and certifications obtained in Germany, where natural gas mixtures with different additions of hydrogen have been tested on various combustion systems. Delgaz Grid believes that Romania’s natural gas networks have the potential to supply consumers with significant quantities of hydrogen at low cost compared to other methods of energy transmission and distribution.

The 20HyGrid tests will validate this technical solution at national level, ensuring the safe use of the natural gas-hydrogen mixture.

The Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti joins the 20HyGrid pilot project as a partner, bringing academic and technological expertise in the field of natural gas and hydrogen. Through its involvement, the university contributes to the development and promotion of the use of green gases, such as hydrogen produced by electrolysis and biomethane, to decarbonise household energy sources.

Participants in the sociological study commissioned by Delgaz Grid expressed openness to the use of hydrogen as a household fuel, highlighting its non-polluting qualities. Delgaz Grid believes that there is a need to properly inform consumers about green gases and hydrogen technology, and that authorities, companies, the university and academic environment and industry associations should step up their efforts in this respect.

The 20HyGrid project benefits from the support and involvement of important entities in Romania, including the Ministry of Energy, the Committee for Industries and Services of the Chamber of Deputies, the National Regulatory Authority for Energy (ANRE), the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, the Association for Hydrogen Energy, and the Intelligent Energy Association.

The 20HyGrid pilot project is a first concrete step towards the use of hydrogen as an energy source in Romania and is backed by the experience and expertise of E.ON Romania, offering customers the same safety in operation and comfort using the current infrastructure.

The Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti is dedicated to promoting green gases technology and developing sustainable energy solutions.