Hydrogen Trial for Gas Compression Station

Baker Hughes NovaLT12 at a test bench in Florence, Italy. Credit: Baker Hughes.

Snam completed a series of tests with hydrogen as a fuel to power gas turbines at one of its natural gas compression stations. The experiment demonstrated the compatibility of blending hydrogen (at 10%) and natural gas on a NovaLT12. The Istrana plant is one of 13 compression stations along Italy’s gas transportation network. The tests also involved a PGT25 tested under the same specifications. The addition of more hydrogen in the current fleet enables CO2 emission reductions of about 20,000 tons per annum. The investigations in progress are aimed at verifying, “in-the-field," both the reaction of the various components from a metallurgical point of view, and the required maintenance and efficiency of the turbines using hydrogen.