Characterisation of Energy Gases

Natural gas resources in the EU are declining. Consequently, various forms of diversification in the natural gas supply are taking place. Governments in the EU as well as gas producers and transporters support the “greening of gas” by the introduction of, for example, biogas, mixed natural gas and coal-bed methane.

The European Metrology Research Programme project “Characterisation of Energy gases” will put in place the necessary metrology infrastructure to enable the “inter-changeability” of energy gases so that gaseous fuels from non-conventional sources can access gas grids across the EU.
VSL is one of the Metrology Institutes working in this project based on its expertise in the production of natural gas type reference gas standards for the determination of the calorific value. Also VSL’s expertise in humidity measurements is further expanded with this project towards humidity measurements in hydrocarbon flows at high pressure.

The project will enable gas producers and transporters to make informed commercial, environmental and safety decisions based on comparable measurements of the energy content, carbon content and physical properties of alternative and renewable gaseous fuels. The project will also address the need for measurements of the carbon content of alternative fuel gases, such as refinery gas and syngas that principally arise as by-products of coke and petroleum production. These are required for efficient trade within the scope of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

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