Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has commissioned Arup to undertake a pre-front-end engineering design (FEED) study for the UK East Coast Hydrogen (ECH) project.
The joint initiative between gas network operators Cadent, NGN and National Grid Gas Transmission, focuses on areas within their network including Teesside and the Humber.
The ECH project aims to connect 10GW of hydrogen production to the gas network in the northeast of England and support the UK Government’s 2050 Net Zero plans.
The pre-FEED study initiates the first phase, which is expected to run until 2026, of the 15-year programme, including the FEED study and development of the East Coast Cluster infrastructure.
Steve Saunders, UKIMEA Energy Skills Leader at Arup, said, “Hydrogen will have a key role to play in decarbonising industry and Arup’s recent contribution to the Humber Industrial Cluster Plan and Teesside Hydrogen Vision demonstrate the environmental, economic and social potential in the Northeast of England.
“This study will consider many of the projects already identified through these regional strategies that are key for both importation, production and storage of hydrogen.”
The study will assess routing corridors, new assets required, and consider what assets can be repurposed. Arup has previous experience with cross-country pipeline routings and designing AGIs, Compressor Station modifications and pressure reduction stations.
Chris Verity, NGNs Senior Project Manager for Hydrogen, said, “ECH will be key to enabling the hydrogen economy to grow from the initial Teesside and Humber clusters and bring a viable option for achieving Net Zero to the whole of the NGN network area.”
Australian-based company Worley was recently awarded a contract to also deliver a pre-FEED and technical survey for the ECH project.
Worley will conduct a study for Cadent to understand the transition from natural gas supply into hydrogen and will provide information on the pipeline’s potential route and sizing, before undertaking a pre-FEED study.
