NiSource announced the launch of a multi-phase H₂ blending project—one of the first in the U.S. to use a blending skid in a controlled setting to mix H₂ and natural gas at precise levels to determine optimal blend percentages and their environmental and consumer benefits.

Elected officials and community leaders joined NiSource President and Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Yates and other company officials at the program’s launch at the Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Training Center’s Safety Town in Monaca, Pa., where the H₂ blending skid has been constructed, to tout the possible benefits of this clean energy solution.

“At NiSource we believe that a balanced energy future is one where no one is left behind, and to achieve that goal, we must include a diverse portfolio of energy sources to meet our current and future energy needs,” said Yates. “Our existing natural gas infrastructure positions us well to bring our customers along into the energy of the future, and H₂ blending is one promising solution we are exploring to enhance sustainability and to deliver a safe and reliable energy source to our customers.”

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, a subsidiary of NiSource, partnered with EN Engineering to construct the H₂ blending skid, which allows for the controlled blending of H₂ into Safety Town’s natural gas system at various percentages, ranging from 2%–20%.

To demonstrate the efficacy of the blended fuel, NiSource built a specially designed onsite model home equipped with natural gas appliances to simulate everyday usage in a residential home environment. Ongoing field confirmations are being evaluated H₂’s effect on the natural gas itself, equipment, piping, and the net change in carbon emissions from blending, with favorable results.

H₂ is one of the most abundant elements on earth. It can be produced from a variety of energy sources, stored for future use, piped to where it is needed and converted into a clean source for heat and electricity. We believe that H₂ can be a zero-carbon fuel because when combusted, H₂ produces water vapor, not greenhouse gas emissions. We are exploring how H₂ can be safely produced, transported, stored and blended into the existing natural gas grid to help decarbonize natural gas pipelines. 

Throughout the multi-phase H₂ blending project, NiSource will continue to evaluate the viability of H₂-natural gas blends for other applications such as factories and power plants. Based on the results and data collected, future phases of the program could include the introduction of a H₂-blend into a live-gas environment using the company’s existing gas distribution infrastructure that serves customers today.

The blending program is one facet of NiSource’s overall Future of Energy strategy, which includes a dynamic range of clean energy solutions ranging from solar, wind, electricity and renewable natural gas to secure a sustainable energy future for all.

“Integrating H₂ into our energy future is complementary to renewable energy and could further enhance the global energy transition underway,” said Yates. “Our overall goal remains to lower emissions and ensure the availability of an array of environmentally sustainable energy sources while balancing affordability, reliability and other economic considerations for our customers.”