A research partnership between Peoples Gas, an Essential Utilities company, and the University of Pittsburgh could result in a pilot project to test the impacts of hydrogen on Peoples’ natural gas distribution infrastructure.
According to Peoples President Michael Huwar, the Pittsburghbased utility first approached the university about evaluating the impact of transporting a blend of hydrogen and natural gas after the H2 (Hydrogen) Summit that Peoples co-hosted last April.
“Pitt has one of the leading departments of mechanical engineering and materials sciences and is at the forefront of studying energy transition opportunities,” Huwar told American Gas. “This, along with the fact that Peoples currently partners with Pitt’s Center for Sustainable Business and Katz Graduate School of Business, made them the perfect partner for Peoples.”
By collaborating with Pitt, Peoples has access to leading metallurgists with experience in materials science and engineering. Their knowledge and capabilities will help Peoples study and evaluate the potential of safely and securely transporting hydrogen through the utility’s existing natural gas systems.
Natural gas is currently the primary energy source used to produce hydrogen, and western Pennsylvania and surrounding areas have abundant natural gas resources. Until renewables are at the point where it makes sense to use those resources to produce hydrogen, Huwar says natural gas will be essential to developing and commercializing hydrogen.
“The region is ready and focused on securing and developing a U.S. Department of Energy-designated hydrogen hub, so it can play an important role in the transition to reduce emissions, offering a cleaner way to heat our homes and power our businesses,” Huwar said. “But it will take more than hydrogen to reach the nation’s emission-reduction goals. A variety of energy sources and technologies used in concert will help get us there, while meeting demand in a cost-effective manner.”
The first phase of the partnership focuses on benchmarking and researching existing information and data, specifically technical issues involved with using natural gas pipelines to transport hydrogen or a blend of hydrogen and natural gas. Following the delivery of that initial report in early 2023, Peoples anticipates continuing to work with the experts at Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering on a pilot program to test the impacts of hydrogen on its natural gas distribution infrastructure.