challenges associated with storing power generated from solar or wind sources. Successfully managing this transformation will require detailed data on storage capacity, as well as injection and withdrawal rates. However, adapting existing infrastructure for hydrogen production and storage can reduce costs and accelerate the transition to a cleaner energy system.
800
Non-sewage plants Sewage plants
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Figure 2 Growth of UK AD plants (sewage and non-sewage) from 2000 to 2023. Source: Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association
future solution to help address this challenge. Effective data management allows the industry to optimise network operations, identify potential issues, and guide future investment decisions. Xoserve is actively helping the industry transition to a system that can accommodate hydrogen and biomethane alongside natural gas, all while maintaining security of supply. By working closely with industry stakeholders to establish robust data standards and develop new metering and billing methodologies, Xoserve ensures the infrastructure is prepared for a low-carbon future. By analysing and sharing insights from hydrogen trial phases, the company enables the energy sector to identify gaps, implement effective solutions, and make informed decisions, supporting a more efficient, cost-effective, and data-driven transition. Considering biomethane Biomethane is experiencing rapid growth, with more than 700 plants in the UK alone – a figure that has doubled over the last 10 years (see Figure 2 ). Within the EU, France is one of the leading countries to scale up biomethane production, doubling its capacity since 2022. Biomethane has a high methane content (typically 95-99%), making it ideal for any application that uses natural gas, like heating and power generation. With significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels, biomethane has the potential to play a crucial role in achieving net-zero goals. One of the advantages of biomethane is that
Billing and settlement Hydrogen’s molecular properties differ significantly from natural gas, and its
introduction into the gas grid requires updates to metering and settlement processes. Whether blending hydrogen with natural gas or replacing it entirely, gas systems must measure energy accurately and calculate bills based on the energy content rather than volume. Hydrogen has a lower calorific value than natural gas, meaning more volume is required to deliver the same amount of energy. Accurate measurement ensures fair pricing for consumers and supports the commercial viability of the hydrogen market. To bill natural gas accurately, the industry uses the flow-weighted average calorific value (FWACV), which calculates the energy content of gas by weighting the calorific value of each component according to its volume over a defined period. FWACV ensures that consumers are billed fairly for the energy they receive, regardless of variations in gas composition. As the gas network evolves, systems and processes must track the composition of gas delivered to end users, including hydrogen, biomethane, and various blends injected from multiple points across local distribution zones, to ensure accurate settlement and billing. This relies on robust metering and billing systems capable of capturing and processing large volumes of data to account for these variable gas compositions. The Real-Time Settlement Methodology (RTSM) is being developed as a
www.decarbonisationtechnology.com
57
Powered by FlippingBook