The hydrogen revolution in energy

We are pleased to announce that we had an article about hydrogen in the renowned HVAC magazine Haustechnik. This article focuses on the use of hydrogen in the energy sector. We are proud to contribute to spreading awareness in this key area and thank the editors of TZB Haustechnik (HVAC magazine) for this great opportunity.    

Hydrogen is increasingly gaining attention as a key element in the search for sustainable solutions for the future of energy and the environment.

Milan Holomek, Manager of the Combustion Equipment Section at the Strojírenský zkušební ústav, has been working intensively on the use of hydrogen in the energy sector for several years. His expert perspective will enable us to better understand the potential of hydrogen in terms of environmental efficiency and economic efficiency.

How long have you been adding hydrogen to the fuel mix?
I have been involved in this innovative technology for more than three years and see huge potential in it. Adding hydrogen to the fuel mixture for combustion in gas appliances can make a significant contribution to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. This method can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and contribute to cleaner air.

Why is hydrogen so important today?
Hydrogen is often discussed nowadays and is perceived as an important element, especially for its potential to contribute to a more promising economic future. It is a clean and renewable gas that has a wide range of applications in various sectors, including energy, transport and industry. With growing awareness of climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, hydrogen is becoming a key element in the search for alternative, greener energy sources. In addition, initiatives such as the European Green Deal are giving hydrogen even more emphasis, increasing its visibility and importance in today's world.

Can you give us an overview of the Green Deal concept?
As part of the European Green Deal, the European Union has committed itself to a gradual "greening"
natural gas (G20) through the addition of hydrogen. This process is intended to lead to a transition to hydrogen as the main energy source. Greening means replacing natural gas, which is of fossil origin, with hydrogen obtained exclusively from renewable sources, such as surplus electricity generation from photovoltaic or wind power plants.

What are the other benefits of adding hydrogen to gas mixtures?
The most important is the reduction of the carbon footprint, in practice this means in particular the reduction of CO2, CO and NOx emissions compared to conventional natural gas as a fuel.

How are appliance manufacturers responding to this initiative?
Manufacturing companies are gradually preparing for the transition to hydrogen. The Mechanical Engineering Testing Institute is also actively involved in testing and offers manufacturers cooperation. The first major milestone of 20% hydrogen concentration in natural gas is currently being discussed. This concentration is based on the fact that most appliances designed to burn clean natural gas are able to tolerate hydrogen concentrations of up to 20% without the need for further modification.

Which appliances are affected by the topic of hydrogen addition?
The change will affect all gas appliances connected to the natural gas distribution network in the future. This will not only include all appliances in households, but also in catering establishments, from cookers and ovens to condensing boilers, gas infrared heaters, gas air heaters, gas fireplaces and convection stoves.

What is the current legislation in the Czech Republic?
The current legislative framework in the Czech Republic for gas appliances is an important topic. Apart from certain national regulations, such as the so-called technical rules, the Czech Republic is mainly influenced by European legislation, which is currently being prepared for the practical application of the hydrogen/natural gas mixture. Therefore, although the legislation is still in the process of being drafted, we can use the European standards as a starting point, as is the case with the standard gas categories.

You mentioned that you have been testing the adaptability of gas appliances in your test facility for several years, can you tell us more?
Our test house provides testing and certification of gas appliances that burn natural gas with hydrogen admixture in addition to standard gases and gas mixtures defined by the gas categories according to EN 437. In addition, we are able to prepare various other mixtures with hydrogen content in natural gas in addition to the 20% mixture. For boilers we offer measurements up to 2 MW. Our aim is to verify the adaptability of the appliance design for the combustion of natural gas with up to 20% hydrogen in the mixture without further modifications. We are also open to specific requirements for testing and product design.

What specific aspects do you check during the tests?
We check the influence of the power input (due to lower calorific value), we test ignition, stability and flame propagation (in order to prevent pulsation, backfiring or flame flight in hot and cold conditions), safety conditions (partial blockage of flue gas exhaust and air supply), safety times for ignition and extinguishment, testing the resistance of the burner design against deliberate ignition and flame burning on the nozzle and measuring emissions (CO2, O2, CO and NOx), etc.

What does the gas appliance manufacturer gain as a result of such testing?
The basis is always the test reports, which may be supplemented by other documents such as evaluation reports, final reports and, where appropriate, certificates or attestations. In the absence of legislation, the current certification is rather commercial in nature. By certification, the manufacturer declares that it is responding to modern trends and future market and customer needs. Our certification is based on specific tests and findings that provide evidence of a certain degree of guarantee for the trouble-free behaviour of the certified products.

What other innovations in thermal technology do you think may have an impact on the domestic energy sector in the future?
We are currently seeing continued interest in heat pumps, which are steadily increasing in efficiency while noise emissions are decreasing. There are also new refrigerants such as R290 (propane), following R32, which are more environmentally friendly. The industry is also focusing on developing equipment with a lower environmental impact even at the end of its life. There is a growing trend towards the use of local heating sources, especially wood and pellet burning stoves and fireplaces. Biomass boilers are also becoming increasingly popular, as biomass (wood, pellets, etc.) is considered a renewable energy source and fits into the energy mix for heating and hot water.

Thank you for the interview.

Published by: Jaga Media, s.r.o. 

Source: ASB-portal.cz | odborný portál | architektura, stavebnictví, byznys