H2SITE has commissioned a palladium membrane separator capable of extracting five to 20% blends of hydrogen at 99% purity.

AS part of the H2SAREA project, the separation unit has been installed on a natural gas distribution network located in Zamudio, Spain, with regional distribution system operator Nortegas.

Through the H2SAREA project, H2SITE has demonstrated that the distribution infrastructure is compatible with the transport blends of hydrogen and renewable natural gas through its membrane separator technology.

H2SITE’s CEO, Andrés Galnares, explained that the company’s technology enables it to “produce high-purity hydrogen suitable for fuel cell application from blends with very low hydrogen concentrations.”

Galnares added, “We have achieved the separation of over 97% of hydrogen at very high purity in the original gas stream while ensuring that the natural gas we deliver complies with the specifications of existing users.”

“This includes applications such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) refuelling stations for vehicles or boilers requiring hydrogen content within specific limits,” continued the CEO.

According to the Spanish Gas Association, SEDIGAS, in order to upgrade the country’s gas network to operate with up to 20% hydrogen it would cost €703m ($751m).