Biomethane Injection Quantitative Risk Assessment for European Gas Transmission Network
Project Background
Biomethane, a renewable gas produced from organic waste, is increasingly injected into Europe’s gas networks, enabling decarbonisation while using existing infrastructure. Today, over 1,600 biomethane facilities operate across Europe, with most connected to the gas grid, and EU targets aim to scale production to 35 billion cubic metres per year by 2030 (European Commission, REPowerEU).
Our client, a European gas transmission operator, plans to inject compressed biomethane into a 14,000 km high-pressure‑ network supplying more than 720,000 homes and businesses. Penspen was contracted to assess the safety and operational implications of introducing a biomethane delivery, storage, and injection facility at an existing site.
Services
Penspen’s UK Asset Integrity team performed a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) of the biomethane injection facility and its interaction with the existing transmission infrastructure. The scope of work included:
- Identifying credible hazard scenarios associated with biomethane delivery and injection
- Modelling loss of containment events, fires, explosions and escalation scenarios
- Assessing thermal radiation, blast overpressure and dispersion effects
- Evaluating individual and societal risk levels
- Comparing results against regulatory risk acceptance criteria
- Assessing potential risk reduction measures using cost-benefit analysis
- Demonstrating compliance with the in-country regulator’s ALARP safety framework.
Specialist modelling software was also used to simulate consequences and generate risk contours for the facility.
Result
The QRA confirmed that the proposed biomethane injection facility could operate safely within the existing transmission network. Key outcomes included:
- Detailed modelling of thermal radiation, explosion overpressure, and escalation scenarios
- Risk contour mapping highlighting potential impact zones
- Societal risk FN curves showing compliance with regulatory thresholds
- Evaluation of engineering risk reduction measures
- A formal ALARP demonstration to support regulatory approval
The assessment provided the client with confidence that, with appropriate operational and engineering controls, biomethane could be integrated safely and reliably into the existing network, supporting the client’s energy transition objectives and commitment to a lower-carbon future.
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