D3.1 Development of standards for hydrogen

A lot of research is currently carried out and knowledge is being gained on the use and distribution of hydrogen and natural gas/hydrogen blends. To safeguard this information, it needs to be incorporated into new or existing standards. At the same time, work is already underway on standardisation in the Netherlands and at a European level. It is for this reason that the association of electricity and gas network operators in the Netherlands, Netbeheer Nederland, requires an overview of all ongoing standardisation projects and the current progress of these projects.

This report aims to create an overview of the standardisation projects currently underway and their status. The target group who we envisage will read this document consists of people who have been delegated as members of standards committees on behalf of Netbeheer Nederland.

A great deal of research is currently being conducted and knowledge gained in the field of use and distribution of hydrogen and natural gas/hydrogen blends. To safeguard this information, it needs to be incorporated into new or existing standards. At the same time, work is already underway on standardisation, both within the Netherlands and at a European level. As a result, Netbeheer Nederland needs an overview of all current standardisation projects and their progress.

This report aims to create an overview of the standardisation projects currently underway and their status. This document is specifically addressed to experts who are involved in standardisation on behalf of Netbeheer Nederland and/or who are delegated to the relevant standards committees.

The overview created provides insight into the differences between the currently applied natural gas standards and the desired new situation in which natural gas standards have been expanded with standards for hydrogen. In this study, more than seventy topics from the literature were inventoried that relate to the gas infrastructure. Each subject is assigned a Hydelta identification number (HyID). For each subject, the current known status was examined and what action has been initiated. This analysis shows the gaps per subject. In consultation with the advisory group from Netbeheer Nederland, these gaps were assessed and a priority was given on the basis of the importance for the Dutch network operators and the influence that can be exercised by the Dutch network operators. The information has been processed into tables for each source in which the current status is discussed per subject, which standard is relevant and which standards committee is involved. The priority assigned by the supervisory committee is also indicated in the tables.

The following were the highest priorities that emerged and are shown with their HyDelta identification numbers:

• Pressure tests for pipelines (HyID 8).
• Gas volume measurements (HyID 36).
• Rapid measurement of gas composition (HyID 37).
• Safety, ATEX classification and requirements in the concerning tightness and testing (HyID 38).
• Requirements for permissible gas leaks (HyID 46)

In addition to these High priority topics, we have identified topics with an average priority level. These topics do not always relate to standardisation but they do play a role in the demonstration projects that the distribution network operators are currently preparing.

The extension of the respective standards to include hydrogen proceeds through the same organisational structure at the NEN, CEN and ISO levels as these are currently set up. To be successful, the most important instrument for Netbeheer Nederland is the delegation of experts to national and international standards committees to enable the development of standards for hydrogen to proceed favourably. It is recommended that the 5 topics with the highest priority are dealt with as soon as possible. It is also recommended that the 20 topics with average priority are monitored, and action is taken where necessary. This presents an important task for Netbeheer Nederland. Finally, for the sake of continuity and future understanding, it is advisable that the table is updated quarterly.

The prioritised subjects fall under standards committees. The international technical committees, the Dutch standards committees and the delegation in the network are listed below.

• Pressure tests for pipes: technical committee CEN/TC 234, Dutch standards committee 349008, Kiwa Technology on behalf of Netbeheer Nederland
• Gas quantity measurements: technical committee CEN/TC 237, Dutch standards committee 310066, Kiwa Technology on behalf of Netbeheer Nederland
• (Rapid) measurement of the gas composition: technical committee ISO/TC 193, Dutch standards committee 310193, Kiwa Technology on behalf of Netbeheer Nederland
• Safety, ATEX classification and tightness and testing requirements: technical committee CEN/TC 305, Dutch standard committee 341039, Dutch standard committee 341077
• Requirements for permissible gas leaks: Dutch standards committee 349008, Dutch standards committee 3490001, Kiwa Technology on behalf of Netbeheer Nederland