Energy expert and assurance provider DNV has expanded its research laboratory in Singapore with new testing equipment to support the safety assessments of hydrogen transport and storage facilities.
The expansion of DNV’s testing capabilities to the Asia Pacific (APAC) region will allow several gas network operators to explore the opportunity of transporting hydrogen through adapted or repurposed infrastructure.
DNV’s new test chamber evaluates the safety of existing pipelines for the transportation of hydrogen, either blended with natural gas or in its pure form. DNV is currently providing technical support to India for the integration of blended hydrogen into gas trunkline assets, including transmission pipelines, interconnects, spur lines, compressors, valves, and metering stations and equipment.
Additionally, the company is assisting the Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) in a two-year project to evaluate the feasibility of blending hydrogen into South Korea’s gas transmission network. The new hydrogen-ready integrated solution for fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) testing in Singapore includes hydrogen booster systems, safety and hydrogen alarms, ventilation systems, and an additional test vessel.
DNV’s Vice President and Regional Director, Energy Systems for Asia Pacific, Brice le Gallo, said, “This latest investment in our Singapore research and test laboratory offers our APAC customers the advanced testing capabilities energy and other industries are asking for as private and public investment gets behind building local and regional hydrogen economies. Assurance that hydrogen transportation and storage is safe and reliable can unlock the scale-up of its use to solve major decarbonisation challenges such as reducing piped natural gas use in homes and industry.”
Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier that can be produced from various renewable sources. It has the potential to play a vital role in decarbonizing the global energy system by replacing fossil fuels in several applications, such as transportation, industrial processes, and heating. However, hydrogen is highly flammable and requires strict safety measures during transportation and storage. DNV’s expanded testing capabilities can provide the necessary assurance to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen technologies in the APAC region and globally.
