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the science of standardisation

TRACEABILITY IS AN EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT ASPECT OF ACCREDITATION
attend international standardisation analytical methods to support the quality, physical properties and leak
committees at CEN and ISO level required measurements. In 2021, NPL detection to support the introduction
to provide a UK perspective when released a new suite of primary reference of biomethane, hydrogen blending,
writing or revising the relevant gas materials to support the decarbonisation 100 per cent hydrogen gas grids and
quality documentary standards, of energy gases. These include the CCS in Europe.
including EN 16723-1 for biomethane primary standards for biomethane, Aside from decarbonising heat, NPL
and ISO 14687 for hydrogen, with a hydrogen-enriched natural gas, hydrogen is also supporting the decarbonisation
particular focus on ensuring we have for heat and odorants in hydrogen. of transport in the UK by leading a
the analytical capability to perform all European project called Metrology
required gas measurements. This project will develop new for Hydrogen Vehicles. This project is
NPL developed the first proposal focused on improving flow metering
for the UK’s hydrogen for heat quality methods and standards for and gas quality assurance methods
specification as part of the BEIS- flow metering, gas quality, for the hydrogen vehicles industry.
funded Hy4Heat programme alongside physical properties and leak Through this project, NPL has
DNV. This standard will be of specific detection to support the developed a hydrogen purity testing
importance to manufacturers of 100 service (UKAS accredited to ISO 17025)
per cent hydrogen boilers (so they have introduction of biomethane, allowing hydrogen refuelling stations to
a nominal gas quality specification to hydrogen blending, 100 per show compliance to ISO 14687.
work with) but it will also be extremely cent hydrogen gas grids and As the number of commercial
useful for future UK hydrogen projects, CCS in Europe laboratories providing this service
such as HyNet and other hydrogen grows worldwide, NPL has also directly
cluster projects by providing them supported these laboratories through the
with a target hydrogen quality These primary standards are provision of traceable primary standards
specification to go for. available to specialist gas producers and proficiency testing schemes,
The Hy4Heat specification was who intend to provide calibration allowing them to obtain evidence to
developed in consultation with the gas standards to industry, and to gain accreditation to ISO 17025. These
UK gas industry and was based on gas distribution network operators, activities will support the use of hydrogen
several considerations, including appliance manufacturers, analytical as a fuel for larger modes of transport
impact to the costs of producing instrument developers and where batteries may not be feasible.
hydrogen, impact to pipelines and researchers who directly require high
appliances and availability of gas accuracy mixtures. NPL is now leading The National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
measurement analytical methods. In the European project Metrology for is the national measurement standards
other words, there is no point in writing Decarbonising the Gas Grid with 17 laboratory of the United Kingdom,
a specification that cannot be followed. other European partners including Air providing the measurement capability
Once these specifications were Liquide, DNV, DNV Enagas and NEN. that underpins the UK’s prosperity and
agreed, NPL put effort into developing This project will develop new methods quality of life. For more information,
the required primary standards and and standards for flow metering, gas visit www.npl.co.uk

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