Page 41 - Gi_May2021

igem news

THE ‘HY STREET’ HOUSES AT
DNV’S SPADEADAM RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT SITE

TESTING HYDROGEN FLOWS AT DNV’S SPADEADAM
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SITE WITH FELLOW ‘HYDROGEN HOMES’ AT NGN’S LOW
ENGTECH MICK SMITH, H21 SITE MANAGER THORNLEY SITE IN GATESHEAD

groups. It was a great place to learn and hydrogen project – something I never “My involvement with IGEM continues
meet knowledgeable people from across would have dreamed I’d ever be part of. to grow. I’m a member of IGEM’s Council
the industry. Most of all, I found out that “The experience I have been and I’m part of the EngTech working
getting involved with the institution fortunate enough to acquire means group that is looking to improve the
was an incredibly beneficial thing to I’m getting involved in lots of different way IGEM benefits EngTechs and those
do and it opened up a world of learning aspects of the project and working looking to achieve this grade. I also sit on
opportunities for me. with some truly talented people, not the GL/8, UP/1, UP/12 panels and have
“I volunteered to become a member just within NGN but also our project recently contributed to the TD/3 and
mentor, helping others to gain partners and others. TD/4 review for hydrogen.
membership and increase their grade. In “The role is fascinating and varied “My advice to all involved in the
2018, I was honoured to be nominated – from project managing a number gas industry is to always seek to
for and ultimately receive IGEM’s first of pieces of work to understanding learn more, ask questions and don’t
ever Engineering Technician of the industrial and commercial gas users allow boundaries to be put on your
Year Award – something I am incredibly and the initial hydrogen supply strategy, aspirations. If someone had told
humbled by to this day. to providing technical input into the me when I was an apprentice that I
“As part of the award, I received an construction of the ‘Hydrogen Homes’ would be standing on site watching a
educational grant which was instrumental at our Low Thornley site. This sits multi-million-pound hydrogen micro-
in helping me to fulfil a long-held ambition alongside my ‘normal’ role, in which grid being built at DNV’s Spadeadam
to begin a Master of Science degree I have been modelling the network in Research and Development site, or that
(MSc) in Gas Engineering, which I hope potential 100 per cent hydrogen trial I would be involved in the construction
to complete this year. Without IGEM’s areas and calculating predicted pressure of brand-new hydrogen homes – I would
financial help, I had no other form of losses in service pipes when they flow have laughed at them. What I do know
support to begin this at the time and it hydrogen. This has involved working is that IGEM has supported me in one
simply wouldn’t have happened. closely with my colleague and fellow way or another throughout – whether
“I joined NGN again back in July EngTech Mick Smith to test the modelled that’s through their standards, with
2020, working with an amazing bunch flows. I’m also acting as a mentor for one financial support or simply as a place
of people as part of the NGN-led H21 of our fantastic new apprentices. where I can ask questions.”

41

15/04/2021 15:50
IGEMNews_EngTechs.indd 2
IGEMNews_EngTechs.indd 2 15/04/2021 15:50