Optimising green hydrogen injection into gas networks: Decarbonisation potential and influence on quality-of-service indexes

This paper introduces a mathematical model designed to optimise the operation of natural gas distribution networks, considering the injection of hydrogen in multiple nodes. The model is designed to optimise the quantity of hydrogen injected to maintain pressure, gas flows, and gas quality indexes (Wobbe index (WI) and higher heating value (HHV)) within admissible limits. This study also presents the maximum injection allowable of hydrogen correlated with the gas quality index variation. The model has been applied to a case study of a gas network with four distinct scenarios and implemented using Python. The findings of the case study quantify the maximum permitted volume of hydrogen in the network, the total savings in natural gas, and the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Lastly, a sensitivity analysis of injected hydrogen as a function of the Wobbe index (WI) and Higher Heating Value (HHV) limits relaxation.