Hydrogen could flow via 3bcm/year Greece-Bulgaria gas link

LONDON (ICIS)–The 3 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) could allow the transfer of hydrogen when mixed with natural gas in the future, project operator ICGB’s executive officer Teodora Georgieva told ICIS.

“Depending on the amount of hydrogen to be injected, some level of retrofitting of the gas transmission infrastructure may be needed. The degree of modifications required depends on many aspects related to the technical characteristics of specific segments of the gas transmission system,” said Georgieva.

IGB started commercial operation on 1 October and could transport 300 million cubic metres (mcm) of gas by the end of 2022, Georgieva told ICIS.

IGB’s 3bcm/year capacity could be increased to 5bcm/year if there is sufficient market interest, said ICGB.

EU Hydrogen development was on the agenda in a recent meeting.

“The hydrogen market is not yet developed, therefore we must provide the most flexible conditions for its development, taking into account the characteristics and potential of each member state. Only in this way will we stimulate rapid development of production, consumption and trade,” the Bulgarian energy minister said during an EU meeting on 25 October.

Bulgaria is set to receive €35m funding under the EU recovery and resilience plan (RRP) to develop 55MW or over 4,300tonnes/year of renewable hydrogen production capacity by 2030.

“According to studies from international gas association MARCOGAZ, at relatively low concentrations of hydrogen – up to 10% of the entire transported volume, the gas system does not require large investments or modifications, while a higher concentration will almost certainly lead to more significant capital investments – according to the topology of the gas network, the transmission distance, the existing equipment in the gas facilities, etc.,” added Georgieva.

On 26 October local municipality of Razgrad announced plans to invest in hydrogen technology aiming to install 10MW or over 714tonnes/year of renewable hydrogen production capacity by 2027.

BULGARTRANSGAZ HYDROGEN PUSH

Bulgarian grid operator Bulgartransgaz is working on several hydrogen projects with its Greek colleagues, its executive director Vladimir Malinov said during the Sofia Economic Forum in June.

A new Bulgarian-Greek hydrogen pipeline planned to come online by 2025 is likely to boost the development of hydrogen in both countries, added Malinov at the time.

“Work will be done on the interconnection of the hydrogen networks between the two countries with a goal to have at least 5% connectivity on 1 January 2025, but we aim for more ambitious targets – up to 10-15% connectivity to be achieved in this period,” Malinov added.

Other Bulgartransgaz’ projects include a hydrogen and low-carbon gaseous fuels transport infrastructure project in the East Maritsa coal region and a project idea for evaluation and subsequent adaptation of the existing gas transmission infrastructure to work with up to 10% hydrogen.

“The specified projects, on which Bulgartransgaz is working to build hydrogen transfer infrastructure, have the potential to become part of future European hydrogen transfer corridors, including within the European Hydrogen Backbone initiative,” Malinov said in June.