Abstract
The production and use of low carbon hydrogen will play a key role in helping Europe deliver its climate objectives and reach net zero. Affordable hydrogen transport is fundamental, with an expected opportunity for the oil and gas sector to support the development of the hydrogen economy by repurposing existing infrastructure. However, hydrogen differences from natural gas or the availability of existing infrastructure is a complex changeover to be readily available by the 2030s.
Part-funded by the Scottish Government via the Energy Transition Fund, with matched funding from industry partners during Phase 1 including Kellas Midstream, Shetland Island Council, EnQuest, Shell and Crown Estates Scotland, the Hydrogen Backbone Link (HBL) project aims to connect Scotland to the European Hydrogen Backbone to create export opportunities for Green H2 and H2 technologies. This will support the development of pan-European hydrogen infrastructure and create export capabilities by repurposing and optimising existing pipelines, installing new pipelines, or utilising other options such as marine transport by ship.
A pipeline can only be studied while considering the associated infrastructures; hence the scope was broken down to 12 separate studies including blending & deblending, hydrogen storage, compression, metering and valves. Business case risk assurance and economic modelling were also developed.
Phase 1, a feasibility stage of the project, is complete and includes 12 reports which provide the following:
Options for export methods.
Options for existing or new pipelines.
Findings and next steps for associated infrastructure and systems.
The studies proposed that a new pipeline is required directly from Shetland Voe Terminal or Flotta to Europe, using Emden in Germany as a study case. The new pipelines offer many advantages including operational independence, and a competitive business model of 6 % IRR with a tariff of £0.32/kg (Wood Mackenzie 2022).
With recommendations provided from Phase 1, Phase 2 is now ready to start and will include further engineering, physical testing and lab work, such as large-scale hydrogen specific metering tests. The Hydrogen Backbone Link Project continues with the goal of connecting Scotland to Europe by 2030s, within the overall target of achieving net zero.
