Reusing European oil and gas infrastructure for hydrogen and CCS

With hydrogen and CCS deployment back on the EU political agenda, it is important that policymakers have an accurate picture of where we stand today, and where we can go from here.

On 28 October, Carbon Limits and DNV published ‘Re-Stream – Study on the reuse of oil and gas infrastructure for hydrogen and CCS in Europe’. The report, commissioned by IOGP Europe, Concawe, The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG), and Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), provides key data on the reuse of offshore and onshore oil and gas transmission pipelines by identifying and assessing relevant infrastructure, and defining which technical adaptations and investments would be required to unlock the potential for reuse for CO₂ and hydrogen transport.

The study confirms the significant potential for reuse of the oil and gas transmission pipelines in Europe (EU + UK + Norway) to transport hydrogen and CO₂. This can make CCS and hydrogen deployment less costly, and with it the energy transition. The study’s publication will help inform the upcoming 2022-2023 EU regulatory work to help scale up hydrogen and CCUS technologies in the EU, in particular the upcoming Hydrogen and Decarbonized Gas Market legislative package and the Communication on Restoring Sustainable Carbon Cycles.

On 29 November, 190 people attended the study’s launch event. Member of the European Parliament Maria Spyraki (EPP, Greece), rapporteur on the EU Methane Strategy, shared her positive reaction to the study results. Carbon Limits and DNV presented the findings and methodology of the study, followed by remarks from the funding organizations, including IOGP Europe.

Access the study, executive summary, and key graphs here, and feel free to share it with colleagues who may be interested. The webinar is available on demand here.