Snam SpA and oilfield service giant Baker Hughes Co. have successfully completed tests for a "hybrid" turbine that will allow transportation pipelines to carry hydrogen along with natural gas, the Italian gas company said July 20.
The new turbine, which was entirely designed and produced in Baker Hughes' plants in Italy and can be fueled by a mix of natural gas and up to 10% of hydrogen, will be installed by next year at Snam's Istrana site near Treviso in northern Italy. Green hydrogen, produced by electrolysis using solar and wind power sources, is seen as a possible replacement for fossil fuels such as natural gas since it does not produce CO₂ when burnt.
CEO Marco Alverà said in a statement that the project marked a further step in efforts by Snam, Europe's biggest gas transport group, to adapt its pipeline network for hydrogen transportation.
Raising the share of hydrogen in the natural gas it transports to 10% would allow it to pump about 7 billion cubic meters of hydrogen each year, Snam said—enough to cover annual consumption for 3 million families and cut carbon emissions by 5 million tons.
Snam said that 70% of its natural gas grid was already made up of "hydrogen ready" pipes.
Recommended Reading
Enterprise’s SPOT Deepwater Port Struggles for Customers
2024-04-25 - Years of regulatory delays, a loss of commercial backers and slowing U.S. shale production has Enterprise Products Partners’ Sea Port Oil Terminal and rival projects without secured customers, energy industry executives say.
Enbridge Fortifies Dominant Role in Corpus Christi Crude Transport
2024-03-20 - Colin Gruending, Enbridge executive vice president and president for liquids pipelines told Hart Energy the company’s holdings in South Texas are akin to a “catcher’s mitt” for Permian and Haynesville production.
Early Startup of Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Surprises Analysts
2024-04-04 - Analysts had expected the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion to commence operations in June but the company said the system will begin shipping crude on May 1.
For Sale? Trans Mountain Pipeline Tentatively on the Market
2024-04-22 - Politics and tariffs may delay ownership transfer of the Trans Mountain Pipeline, which the Canadian government spent CA$34 billion to build.
Enterprise Targets FID for SPOT Project by End of 2024
2024-05-01 - Enterprise Products Partners’ co-CEO disputed capex figures reported in the media regarding its Sea Port Oil Export Terminal.