Serbia plans hydrogen transport through gas pipelines

Serbia’s natural gas transmission system operator, Transportgas Srbija, has invited bids for the preparation of a study on the technical feasibility of transporting hydrogen through the gas network. The study should assess the quantities of hydrogen that can be transported, as well as the impact of blending hydrogen with natural gas on the transmission system and key consumers. The goal is to determine the technical, investment, and regulatory measures necessary for integrating hydrogen into Serbia’s gas infrastructure.

Transportgas notes that hydrogen, as an alternative fuel, is becoming increasingly important in the context of decarbonization and energy security. It also recalls that the Energy Community has set goals for defining natural gas quality for all transmission system operators in Southeast Europe, with special emphasis on the introduction and application of hydrogen.

Serbia would transport hydrogen by blending it with natural gas. Transportgas recalled that gas pipelines built in recent years or currently under construction in Europe are capable of transporting 100% pure hydrogen.

The study should, among other things, determine the maximum percentage of hydrogen that can be blended with natural gas, as well as the impact on equipment and transmission system losses.

The selected consultant will also be required to determine the chemical composition of the hydrogen-natural gas blend, define the blending procedure, and identify the optimal blending points within the transmission system, as well as suitable sites for hydrogen production and storage in Serbia.

The study should also assess how much hydrogen blended with natural gas can be transported through existing gas pipelines, taking into account the varying qualities of natural gas from different supply routes. The construction of the Balkan Stream gas pipeline and the interconnector with Bulgaria near Dimitrovgrad has enabled Serbia to diversify its gas supplies, Transportgas pointed out.

The study must include an assessment of the impact of the chemical composition and quality of the hydrogen-natural gas blend on major gas consumers in Serbia – steelworks Železara Smederevo, asphalt plants, compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations, oil refinery Rafinerija nafte Pančevo, cogeneration plants TE-TO Pančevo and TE-TO Novi Sad, petrochemical plant HIP-Petrohemija Pančevo, methanol producer MSK Kikinda, and district heating plants in Belgrade and Zrenjanin.

The consultant will be required to recommend investments needed to introduce hydrogen, such as installing gas analyzers, building new gas pipelines, and upgrading existing infrastructure.

The consultant’s obligation will also be to propose regulatory changes to enable the introduction of hydrogen into the gas infrastructure, the invitation states, noting that the regulations in question include the Law on Energy and the government decree on terms of natural gas delivery and supply.