DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, announced the opening of its new technology centre at the Zernike campus in Groningen, Netherlands.
The new centre will serve as a hub for DNV’s research and technology qualification for the energy sector, aimed at demonstrating and qualifying low-carbon technologies, optimizing and repurposing existing gas infrastructure, providing innovative measurement technology for energy systems, leading research on fuels derived from hydrogen and H2, and carrying out safety analyses and error investigations.
The facility in Groningen is part of DNV’s network of technology centres, which leverage the Group’s centuries-old experience in shipping and energy to qualify and apply advanced technologies for global transformations. The Technology Centers drive innovation and standardization by bringing industry players together in joint industry programs to develop trusted policies, recommended practices, and standards. This ultimately enables the reliable operation of critical equipment and systems by setting operating limits and ensuring performance over the lifetime of oil and gas, renewable energy, and aquaculture facilities.
DNV’s research laboratories in Groningen had already become an international reference for research and development in the field of hydrogen, which prompted the expansion of its facilities. The centre has been equipped with the latest testing equipment to support DNV’s research into the decarbonization of energy systems. The research facility in Groningen is expected to play a crucial role in achieving the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and supporting the energy industry in eliminating risks in implementing clean energy solutions for the transition.
Today marked the first of a two-day inaugural event that brought together international energy experts for a seminar and networking event on “Act Now: Towards a Secured Decarbonized Energy Future”. DNV’s global pipeline experts from the Group’s various technology centres in Groningen, Spadadem, Oslo, Bergen, and Columbus presented a new white paper entitled “Repurposing Onshore Pipelines for Hydrogen: Guiding Operator through the reevaluation process”. This study, intended for both industry and regulators, examines current standards and challenges and presents a new procedure for assessing the safety and feasibility of repurposing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen based on a rigorous assessment.
Hydrogen is a crucial element in decarbonizing hard-to-reduce sectors, and it is expected to account for 20-50% of Europe’s energy mix by 2050. However, scaling hydrogen value chains will only succeed if the safety risk and public acceptance are managed appropriately. DNV is committed to helping the energy industry reuse pipelines safely and effectively and is heavily involved in research, collaboration, and projects to this end. Together with industry and authorities, they aim to meet the challenge of repurposing natural gas pipelines for transporting hydrogen, removing a significant barrier to scaling up hydrogen as a key low-carbon energy carrier.
Today, DNV will host an open day at the new Technology Centre with the green technologies exhibition and various side events for the general public, including a student event and presentations by the large Dutch hydrogen research consortium HyDelta.
DNV’s new Technology Center in Groningen is a significant step towards decarbonizing energy systems. The centre will play a crucial role in demonstrating and qualifying low-carbon technologies, optimizing and repurposing existing gas infrastructure, providing innovative measurement technology for energy systems, leading research on fuels derived from hydrogen and H2, and carrying out safety analyses and error investigations. DNV’s commitment to helping the energy industry reuse pipelines safely and effectively and its involvement in research, collaboration, and projects to this end is a significant contribution to the transition to a low-carbon future.
