APA Group has proposed to test Victoria’s high pressure gas transmission system to safely blend hydrogen.
The proposal is part of the Victorian Transmission System access arrangement submission to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
APA also plans to understand if there are any potential future works required to safely accommodate hydrogen.
APA CEO and managing director Rob Wheals said the proposal was a “landmark” study.
“We expect this study to help us identify which parts of the network are suitable for hydrogen blends,” Wheals said.
Wheals said the study will benefit from other projects APA is involved in.
“If the study is approved, the project will benefit from APA’s existing pilot project in Western Australia, which is already investigating the conversion of a section of gas pipeline to be 100 per cent hydrogen-ready,” he said.
“Our work in Western Australia will significantly reduce the costs of the proposed Victorian study as a result of the advancements we have already made in partnership with Future Fuels CRC and the University of Wollongong.”
Recently, the Australian government decided to change the National Gas Law to allow hydrogen blends and renewable methane gas blends to be included in the national energy regulatory framework.
“[APA] look forward to helping support and progress these reforms by undertaking the required safety and operational testing of Victoria’s gas transmission network,” Wheals said.
“There are currently no Australian standards for the conversion of existing gas infrastructure, which is why it is vitally important to undertake a technical safety assessment at the same time as governments progress reforms to the National Gas Law.”
For more information visit APA’s website.
