BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is assessing the option to electrify the compressor stations in order to reduce the carbon footprint connected to the operation of the pipeline, Luca Schieppati, TAP managing director, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.
He pointed out that the entire industry is currently focused on hydrogen, as one of the key solutions, to eventually achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
“TAP has been quick to embrace this notion from the outset. Our ambition is to develop the asset to allow transportation of hydrogen, initially in the form of a blend with natural gas. We envisage hydrogen concentrations being increased in incremental steps in line with the development of the H2 market and relevant demand, as well as the evolving regulatory framework both at EU and MSs levels,” said the managing director.
Luca Schieppati noted that TAP is in the process of assessing the degree to which TAP can technically accommodate transporting a blend of natural gas and hydrogen.
“In 2021, an Initial Hydrogen Readiness study confirmed that TAP has the potential to transport hydrogen blend. We will be testing our asset materials in an internationally recognized laboratory in 2023 and 2024 to fully assess the suitability to meet the forthcoming hydrogen requirements and opportunities. Similarly, studies by major equipment manufacturers, for new equipment and retrofitting of existing ones (for example our gas turbine driven compressors for hydrogen readiness) are underway. We are working closely with our shareholders, key vendors, and the industry, as the investment in the facilities upgrade and H2 percentage to be transported will likely be developed incrementally over time to match the hydrogen market demands and in line with the related market regulations,” he added.
The managing director pointed out that TAP is a participant in the Joint Industry Project H2Pipe for the development of the world’s first guideline for the transport of hydrogen gas in existing and new offshore pipelines, which will not only benefit TAP, but other transnational interconnectors.
“As part of our efforts to ensure the transportation of renewable gases in the future, TAP together with DESFA and SNAM has established a Biomethane Working Group. This Working Group aims to support the development of a sustainable regulatory framework in Greece, that could be used later on as a reference for Albania, to foster the market interest to produce biomethane and blend it in our infrastructures to make the gas we are transporting greener,” he added.
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