DNV expands lab in Singapore with testing equipment for hydrogen transport and storage

Energy expert and assurance provider DNV has expanded its research laboratory in Singapore with new testing equipment for the safety assessments of hydrogen transport and storage facilities.

DNV’s new testing equipment expands services to the Asia Pacific (APAC) region where several gas network operators are exploring the opportunity to transport hydrogen through adapted or repurposed infrastructure.

DNV said its new test chamber can be used to evaluate whether existing pipelines can safely transport hydrogen – either blended with natural gas or in pure form.

The energy expert is currently providing technical advice and support on the integration of blended hydrogen into gas trunkline assets in India – including transmission pipelines, interconnects and spur lines, compressors, valves, and metering stations and equipment.

The company is also assisting Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) in a two-year project to assess the viability of blending hydrogen into South Korea’s gas transmission network.

In technical terms, the new equipment in Singapore provides a hydrogen-ready integrated solution for fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) testing. The test chamber includes hydrogen booster systems, safety and hydrogen alarms, ventilation systems, and an additional test vessel.

“This latest investment in our Singapore research and test laboratory offers our APAC customers the advanced testing capabilities energy and other industries are asking for as private and public investment gets behind building local and regional hydrogen economies”, said Brice le Gallo, DNV’s Vice President and Regional Director, Energy Systems for Asia Pacific.

“Assurance that hydrogen transportation and storage is safe and reliable can unlock the scale-up of its use to solve major decarbonisation challenges such as reducing piped natural gas use in homes and industry.”