(Trondheim / Norway) – The Norwegian research institution SINTEF and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have launched “SMART-H” in Trondheim. The new institute with three laboratories analyzes, among other things, the effects of hydrogen on metals through mechanical tests in hydrogen gas under various pressures on the nano, micro and macro scale, according to the scientists. The experiments can be carried out at up to 500 bar and at temperatures between 20 and 200 degrees Celsius.
Hydrogen affects materials
“Hydrogen affects the materials around it in challenging ways,” said Alexandra Bech Gjørv, CEO of SINTEF, at the opening. Hydrogen embrittlement is “a major challenge” for transport via pipelines. SMART-H will, among other things, examine atoms from the nanometer range (a billionth of a meter) to the entire wall thickness of a pipeline.
In the SMART-H laboratories, ways to combat the hydrogen embrittlement of materials are to be found (from left to right): Vigdis Olden (SINTEF), Roy Johnson (NTNU), Benedicte Løseth (NFR), Alexandra Bech Gjørv (CEO SINTEF), Richard Markeson (Gassco ), Anne Borg (Rector NTNU), Hege Rognø (Equinor) and Antonio Alvaro (SINTEF). © SINTEF
The research is particularly important in order to further develop the market for hydrogen exports for Norway. In January, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gare Støre reaffirmed their joint commitment in Oslo Climate targets and the creation of a “new green industry”. The Norwegian government wants to ensure “a large-scale supply of hydrogen” along with infrastructure from Norway to Germany by 2030. The country only agreed with Denmark in June that it wanted to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector - including hydrogen.
SINTEF and NTNU had internationally recognized expertise on the effects of hydrogen on metals, including through work with pipelines and other metallic components related to offshore oil and gas production. The Research Council of Norway has funded SMART-H with 40 million Norwegian krone (3,48 million euros) as part of its National Financing Initiative for Research Infrastructures program.
Photos
Alexandra Bech Gjørv, Managing Director of SINTEF, and Anne Borg, Rector of NTNU. © SINTEF
