Baker Hughes, Snam Test Hybrid Turbine

Baker Hughes and Snam have completed testing of a hybrid hydrogen turbine – the NovaLT12 – designed for a gas network. The test, a first for Snam using this kind of turbine, occurred at Baker Hughes’ Florence, Italy, facility.

With testing complete, Snam plans to install the turbine at its Istrana compressor station in the province of Treviso, Italy. By 2021, the turbine will be installed and used to compress and move hydrogen fuel blends through Snam’s transmission network of pipelines. Additionally, the turbine will use these fuel blends to power itself.

The NovaLT12 turbine is designed for hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels. It can burn methane gas and hydrogen blends from 5% to 100% hydrogen.
“With this new testing with Baker Hughes, we are taking a further step forward in the path of adapting our network to the transportation of hydrogen,” said Snam’s CEO Marco Alverà. “The infrastructure … will be an enabling element in the development of clean hydrogen.”

According to Baker Hughes, Snam is among the first companies to test the introduction of hydrogen into a high-pressure gas transportation network – first at 5% and subsequently at 10%. The company also will support developing technology to use hydrogen in multiple sectors.

Snam has more than 25,476 miles (41,000 km) of pipeline across Europe and 706 Bcf (20 X 10⁹ m³) of global natural gas storage capacity. About 70% of Snam’s pipelines are built with hydrogen-ready pipes. Snam estimates it could introduce up to 247 Bcf (7 X 10⁹ m³) of hydrogen into its network each year by blending 10% hydrogen into its total annual gas transportation capacity.