Hydrogen in your cooking gas? Petroleum regulator PNGRB suggests blending up to 5% in domestic pipeline gas; details here | Today’s news

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has proposed to allow the blending of up to 5% hydrogen in natural gas supplied to households through domestic natural gas (PNG) pipeline networks, according to its draft guidelines.

The proposal outlines a framework for the introduction of hydrogen into selected parts of existing gas distribution networks, which are subject to technical assessment, safety requirements and regulatory approvals. However, the proposal itself does not permit commercial hydrogen blending.

“This proposal does not per se permit commercial hydrogen blending. Applicability is subject to statutory authorisation, PNGRB approval and any other approvals from relevant authorities,” the document said.

The regulator suggested limiting initial deployment to small, hydraulically defined areas supplied by a single injection point. The proposed framework is limited to PNG domestic consumers and does not cover the entire municipal gas distribution networks.

What will change for households?

Under the draft guidelines, hydrogen could be blended with natural gas before being delivered to homes through PNG’s existing networks. However, the proposal does not mean that every household connected to the gas network will immediately receive the hydrogen mixture.

Read also | India is racing to increase gas supplies as nearly one-third of PNG connections run dry

The PNGRB specified that the proposed deployment must be limited to areas where the mixed supply can be controlled and monitored. Injection at the district regulation station, which cannot ensure that the supply is limited to domestic consumers, has been ruled out at this stage.

The proposal also clarifies that the 5% limit is a ceiling rather than a normal operating level.

“Five percent is the maximum commercial concentration, not a routine control target,” it said, adding that normal operating levels must be lower and determined by validated engineering assessments.

Read also | The government will offer municipal gas distributors an extra 200m3 of gas to switch domestic PNGs

“No commercial supply under these guidelines shall exceed 5.0%,” the document adds.

What about home appliances and security?

The PNGRB proposal requires operators to assess whether existing pipelines, meters, regulators and other equipment are compatible with hydrogen blending before introducing the blend.

The assessment would also cover household appliances connected to the grid. The document says that the experience of the pilot projects in Indore and Shantigram cannot be taken as universal proof that every gas network and facility is suitable for hydrogen blending.

The proposed framework also requires continuous monitoring of hydrogen concentration, gas flow, pressure and other relevant parameters.

Read also | Why is LPG, and not PNG, facing a crisis due to the US-Iran war? Know the key difference

By design, the hydrogen supply must be automatically isolated in situations such as invalid concentration measurements, hydrogen levels reaching a specified upper limit, loss of natural gas flow, gas detection or fire alarms, emergency shutdowns, hazardous pressure or temperature conditions, and loss of essential control systems or power.

Will consumers’ gas bills change?

The draft guidelines specifically address the impact of hydrogen blending on consumer billing.

“Consumer billing will take into account the reduction in heat content attributable to hydrogen blending so that consumers are not charged for undelivered energy,” the document states.

The proposed framework also requires operators to disclose the basis for billing adjustments. If the necessary data is not available or is inaccurate, the proposal requires a consumer-friendly estimate.

When might hydrogen mixing start?

The proposal clarifies that commercial supply would require statutory and policy approval, special approval from the PNGRB and permission from other relevant authorities.

Operators would normally have to give consumers at least 30 days notice before the first delivery. The proposed information would include hydrogen concentration, changes in gas characteristics, equipment-related safety precautions, emergency procedures, billing adjustments, and complaint channels.

The guidelines also prescribe a minimum six-month trial run with monthly reporting and independent verification. Completion of six months alone would not automatically enable normal commercial deliveries. Operators would need written confirmation from the PNGRB.

The regulator also clarified: “These guidelines do not in themselves create the right to blend or commercially supply hydrogen.