3609 Guidance for management of change when repurposing existing natural gas infrastructure for hydrogen

Overview:

As the energy sector transitions toward net zero, repurposing existing natural gas infrastructure to safely transport hydrogen and hydrogen–natural gas blends offers a critical pathway to decarbonisation.

This first edition of the Energy Institute’s Guidance for Management of Change (MoC) when Repurposing Existing Natural Gas Infrastructure provides a systematic framework for assessing, planning, and managing the safe conversion of pipelines, above- and below-ground installations, and associated systems for hydrogen service.

Developed under the EI’s Hydrogen Committee and Asset Integrity Working Group, and authored by TÜV Rheinland, the guidance brings together best practice and regulatory insights to help operators demonstrate safe repurposing through robust MoC processes. It covers screening methodologies, hazard identification, material integrity, operational management, and risk-based inspection − supported by learnings from international codes, research, and incident analysis.

Intended for operators, engineers, and safety professionals, this report serves as a practical reference for ensuring that changes to infrastructure are executed safely, responsibly, and in compliance with recognised standards.

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