Penspen, a leading international energy consultancy, has been awarded a contract by Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) to assess the feasibility of transporting hydrogen blends through its existing natural gas pipeline.

The project, which is a key component of Europe’s energy infrastructure, aims to support long-term sustainability and decarbonisation efforts as major economies work to achieve net zero by 2050. 

Penspen’s UK-based engineering team will conduct a comprehensive review of TAP’s above-ground installations (AGIs), block valves (BVs), and compressor stations (CSs) to determine the viability of introducing hydrogen blends into the 877-kilometer (545-mile) pipeline. 

TAP pipeline, a key component of the Southern Gas Corridor, connects to the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, traversing Albania and the Adriatic Sea before linking to the Italian gas network. 

TAP has been operational since late 2020, playing a significant role in enhancing Europe’s energy security and diversity of supply.

“By assessing the suitability of existing infrastructure, like the TAP pipeline, for hydrogen blends, we continue to support the delivery of cleaner energy to the communities we work in,” said Darren Bartlett, Energy Transition Director at Penspen. 

Luca Schieppati, TAP’s Managing Director, emphasised the pipeline’s potential contribution to Europe’s climate neutrality goals adding that it could supply the EU with carbon-neutral energy sources, such as hydrogen blended with natural gas. 

Schieppati added that the evaluation of the pipeline’s readiness to handle hydrogen blend underscores the EU’s commitment to innovations and a sustainable energy future for the continent. 

Penspen’s expertise stems from extensive experience in hydrocarbon projects, which the company is now leveraging to inform the development of future fuel infrastructure. This includes repurposing existing systems for hydrogen and carbon dioxide transportation and processing.

The TAP contract follows several recent hydrogen-related projects for Penspen in the UK and Europe. Last month, the company announced its support for Latvian gas operator Conexus Baltic Grid, providing hydrogen blend feasibility and integrity services for its natural gas pipeline network. 

Penspen has also worked with Portuguese national gas transmission operator REN-Gasodutos, conducting hydrogen readiness assessments and providing engineering services for hydrogen blending stations.

In the UK, Penspen provided front-end engineering design (FEED), consenting, land, environment, and stakeholder engagement services for the HPP1 low-carbon hydrogen plant, a key part of HyNet, one of the UK Government’s designated industrial decarbonisation clusters.