Portugal's grid ready to transport 10% hydrogen this year

REN Redes Energeticas Nacionais SGPS SA

22/06/2023 14:34

By Sergio Goncalves
       LISBON, June 22 (Reuters) - Portugal's REN  RENE.LS  has
started adapting its high-pressure natural gas grid to allow it
to carry an up to 10% share of green hydrogen as early this
year, the company said on Thursday.
    Portugal's government plans to hold its first auction in the
second half of this year for the rights to sell green hydrogen,
which is produced using renewable energy, for injection into
national gas grids. 
    Some analysts say the sale could kickstart Europe's
fledgling market for hydrogen, as European countries turn to it
to tackle carbon emissions and improve energy security.
    While the auction aims to boost investment in green
hydrogen, REN - the only operator that transports high-pressure
natural gas and operates the interconnections with Spain - has
to adapt its 1,375-kilometer (854-mile) grid across mainland
Portugal so it can cope with a mixture of natural gas and
hydrogen.
    REN said it has started to adapt instruments to measure the
quality of the transported and they should be ready "by the end
of the year".
    "This work is crucial for REN to obtain, still in 2023, the
(official) certification for, in this first phase, receiving and
transporting up to a maximum of 10% of green hydrogen on its
grid," it said in a statement.
    REN said its strategy for renewable gases, in line with
European Union policies, is based on "adapting existing
infrastructures to accommodate these gases and the development
of infrastructures for 100% hydrogen".
    Portugal expects to become a major producer and exporter of
green hydrogen. Energy Secretary Ana Fontoura said in May that
Portugal "already has firm investment intentions to install
green hydrogen plants with double or even triple the 2.5 GW of
capacity that the government forecast by 2030".
    Oil and gas company Galp  GALP.LS  plans to build a green
hydrogen unit in the industrial hub of Sines and is working on
another plant with EDP-Energias de Portugal  EDP.LS .
    The three main glass producers and two biggest cement
makers, together accounting for 10% of the country's industrial
carbon emissions, also joined a consortium to launch a green
hydrogen unit.

 (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; editing by Inti Landauro and
Barbara Lewis)
 ((sergio.goncalves@thomsonreuters.com; +351213509204; Reuters
Messaging: sergio.goncalves.reuters.com@reuters.net))