H2SITE and SNAM collaborate on hydrogen and natural gas separation

H2SITE, a leading company in hydrogen separation technology and hydrogen transportation solutions, has announced its collaboration with SNAM, one of Europe’s key energy infrastructure operators, to develop an innovative project focused on the separation.

H2SITE has designed a Pd-alloy membrane separator, capable of extracting hydrogen from 2% to 10% concentrations. Once built, this unit will represent the largest installation of its kind, capable of separating hydrogen at low concentrations while achieving high recovery rates.

The Pd-alloy membrane separator allows the recovered hydrogen to be used directly in fuel cells, hydrogen-to-power solutions such as gas turbines and engines, and high-temperature ovens. At the same time, it minimises the hydrogen content in the remaining natural gas, preventing unwanted alterations in its composition.

This is particularly important for industrial consumers whose processes cannot tolerate significant hydrogen concentrations and ensures compliance with local regulations in the gas grid. H2SITE membranes will operate at pressures above 50 bar, an industrial scale proof point relevant for large-scale hydrogen storage applications, such as salt caverns or depleted reservoirs.

Hydrogen Networks