The Evolution of Metrology in the Energy Transition

The energy transition is a hot topic in the field of metrology, particularly as the world shifts its focus from fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas to a host of new fuels including hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, ammonia, and biofuels. In a May 2024 webinar sponsored by the UK Government's Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), experts from TÜV SÜD and academia discussed whether metrology is keeping pace with this growing need and what is required to achieve it. During this popular ‘Ask the Experts’ webinar to celebrate World Metrology Day, I asked this question to our panel of experts. Read the summary of the discussion below or watch the full panel discussion of this and other thought-provoking questions in the webinar recording (Timestamp 03:20).

The energy transition requires metrology to move its focus from fossil-based fuels such as oil and natural gas to a host of new fuels, including ethanol, hydrogen, methanol, ammonia, biofuels, as well as CO₂ for CCUS. With many of these requiring measurement in multiple phases, including the supercritical phase, accurate measurement will be key to enabling stakeholders to meet their net zero goals. Does the panel think that metrology in general is responding to this growing need? And if not, what is required to achieve it?

Dr Chris Mills, Senior Consultant and an expert in Coriolis meters at TÜV SÜD, highlighted the significant research and development efforts underway both in the UK and across Europe for the energy transition. He mentioned various projects focusing on hydrogen refuelling stations, domestic gas meters, and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS). Chris also emphasised the importance of developing standards, regulations, and facilities to support this transition. He pointed out that TÜV SÜD is actively involved in developing new facilities, including a liquid CO₂ facility, which will be among the first of its kind in the world.

TÜV SÜD is also developing best practice guides and a key part of our remit is to influence the standards to make them relevant for the energy transition so they're applicable to hydrogen measurement, for example.

Dr Gabriele Chinello, TÜV SÜD's CCUS lead, echoed these sentiments, adding that while the fundamental principles of flow measurement remain the same, the industry needs to gather more knowledge to underpin the measurement of these new fluids.

Gabriele also emphasised the need for knowledge and test facilities to gather data and validate measurements for new fuels. He pointed out the challenge of justifying large-scale facilities commercially and called for government and industry support to bridge this gap:

"We need to get up to speed the body of knowledge that is required to ultimately trust the measurement and certify the instrumentation for these fluids."

He also mentioned the challenges in setting up large-scale, traceable facilities for these new fuels, stressing the need for government and industry collaboration to overcome these hurdles. He acknowledged that in the UK, the government, particularly the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, is providing significant support for our efforts.

TÜV SÜD expert in hydrogen fluid flow measurement, Dr Piotr Traczykowski, stated that the same technology used for other fluids can also be applied to hydrogen, with some modifications. He used the example of mechanical orifice plates which can be used with hydrogen if pressure and temperature sensors comply with ATEX group IIC standards, as hydrogen is highly explosive. Calibration for hydrogen isn't usually needed, but more evidence is required, and this requires large testing facilities.

Ultrasonic meters used for natural gas don't work as well with hydrogen due to different acoustic properties, but manufacturers are developing hydrogen-ready versions. There are gaps in technology and standards, needing more data and facilities for calibration, especially for large meters. Building such facilities is challenging due to the dangers of handling hydrogen. TÜV SÜD has addressed this by building a facility for testing hydrogen refuelling stations, overcoming numerous issues related to safety and regulation.

Professor Manus Henry, Professor of Flow Measurement at Coventry University and the University of Oxford, and Chair of the National Measurement System's Flow Programme Expert Group (PEG), was also on the panel. Manus agreed that there's lots of work ongoing to address challenges with new fluids like CO₂, which is often multi-phase so raises challenges for many of the different metering technologies. Manus also commented on UK government policy and the need for policy stability:

“… I think we've all seen switches in emphasis between, say, hydrogen and CO₂, and this scheme, and then that scheme, and so on. And given the timescale that has been demanded for net zero in the energy transition, we need a stability in UK government policy and realistic deadlines for technology development and rollout.”

The consensus among the experts is that while significant progress is being made, more investment in large-scale facilities and stable government policies are crucial for the energy transition.

Watch the full panel discussion of this question in the webinar recording (Timestamp 03:20).

PANELLISTS

Professor Manus Henry, Professor of Flow Measurement at Coventry University and the University of Oxford.

Professor Henry is also chair of the National Measurement System’s Flow Programme Expert Group.

Dr Chris Mills, Senior Consultant, TÜV SÜD

Chris is an expert in Coriolis meters and active in many flow measurement technical committees and the development of several ISO metering standards.

Dr Gabriele Chinello, Head of CCUS, TÜV SÜD

Gabriele is also a technical advisor on CCUS metering to the UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) as well as participating in various ISO and BSI committees.

Dr Piotr Traczykowski, Clean Fuels Consultant TÜV SÜD

Piotr is heavily involved in hydrogen metrology and accurate measurements of hydrogen dispensed by hydrogen refuelling stations.

MODERATOR

Colin Lightbody, Principal Consultant, TÜV SÜD

Colin spent many years working across the world as a Metering Consultant for an energy services company. He has contributed to the development of several ISO metering standards for Coriolis and ultrasonic flow metering and has been awarded a patent for a flow meter verification technique.

Read Colin's other blog posts answering some of the questions we addressed during this webinar about Traditional Time-Based vs. Modern Condition-Based Calibration in Metrology and The Future of Traditional Flow Measurement Technologies in a Digital World.

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