“The Natural Energy of Hydrogen” has already reached Portuguese homes
On March 7, 2023, Floene took a historic step towards energy transition and the decarbonization of the national economy.
With the presence of the Prime Minister, António Costa, the injection of Green Hydrogen into the gas distribution network in Portugal was officially started, more specifically in the municipality of Seixal. The “ A Energia Natural do Hidrogénio” project is supplying a group of 82 residential, tertiary and industrial customers and will serve as an example for other projects at national level.
After a testing phase, these customers were officially supplied with a mixture of Green Hydrogen and Natural Gas, increasing the percentage of Green Hydrogen (H 2 ) to a maximum of 20%. The H 2 is produced locally, with 100% renewable energy, in the Seixal Industrial Park, by the Portuguese company Gestene. Once produced and stored, the H 2 travels 1400 meters in a polyethylene gas pipeline, equal to around 95% of the gas network used in Portugal, to a station, where it is mixed with natural gas, and then distributed to customers.
“The Natural Energy of Hydrogen” is a project funded by the Environmental Fund (FA), developed and tested since 2021, with great success.
“The introduction of renewable gases, such as biomethane and, in this case, hydrogen, into the gas distribution network is Floene’s priority and commitment, in line with the national and European objectives of decarbonisation, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse and the diversification of the energy mix”, highlighted the Chairman of Floene’s Board of Directors, Diogo da Silveira.
“The moment when the Prime Minister started mixing H 2 constituted the “H Hour” of the transition to the energy of the future in Portugal, with a high impact on energy self-sufficiency, economic development, reduction of energy bills and preservation of the environment”, pointed out the CEO of Floene, Gabriel Sousa.
In addition to opening the valve, which marked the beginning of the injection of green hydrogen into the gas network, a stove powered by the new mixture was also used, thus showing the suitability of current domestic equipment for the use of H 2 . principle of complementarity between gas and electricity systems in the decarbonization process.
Floene’s network, being one of the most modern in Europe, with around 96% polyethylene, is also prepared to receive renewable gases without the need for adaptation or additional investment, which constitutes an important added value for the implementation of the strategy of decarbonization of infrastructure and the economy.
“The Natural Energy of Hydrogen” has as institutional partners the Municipality of Seixal and the Environmental Fund, and as technical partners Bosch, Catim, Gestene, ISQ, PRF, Instituto Superior Técnico and the Portuguese Association for the Promotion of Hydrogen – HP2H.
Learn more about Green Pipeline Project, the project that forever marks a turning point in the national energy sector, with impact on a global scale.
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