The switch from L-gas to future-proof H-gas has been successfully completed in Staufenberg. Thanks to thorough preparation, the changeover was completed without any significant incidents.
The switch from L-gas to H-gas in the municipality of Staufenberg went smoothly and as planned. The experts from Mittelhessen Netz GmbH (MIT.N) worked closely with the upstream grid operator, Open Grid Europe, to ensure this. Their specialists pulled the decisive lever at 7.05 a.m. on 3 September. Since then, only natural gas with a higher calorific value has been flowing through the pipelines. And not just in Staufenberg. Other municipalities along the Lahn - from Hüttenberg to Marburg - have also stopped receiving Dutch natural gas since Tuesday. "We are pleased that everything went so well. The extensive preparations are now paying off," says a delighted Rüdiger Schwarz, Managing Director of MIT.N.
About one and a half days
Of course, the L-gas still in the grid cannot be replaced at the push of a button. In fact, the H-gas injected by Open Grid Europe reached the MIT.N transfer station at 9.45 a.m. and then gradually flowed on to all private, commercial and industrial customers in Staufenberg, Mainzlar, Daubringen and Treis. MIT.N's experts monitored the spread of the H-gas in the network at previously selected locations. And by midday on 4 September, the higher methane concentration of the new natural gas could be measured throughout the network.
So far, there have been no conversion-related incidents. And the likelihood of a real problem is decreasing by the second. "Of course, as expected, some devices have malfunctioned. But our dedicated service providers, who were also active in the run-up to the changeover, quickly had these under control," continues Rüdiger Schwarz. The technicians will be on the road in Staufenberg until October anyway. This is because they still have to adapt many a gas appliance to the new fuel quality - namely those for which the manufacturer stipulates a subsequent conversion.
The fact that MIT.N in Staufenberg did not have to shut down a single gas appliance due to unsafe continued operation is particularly noteworthy. Because safety is at the top of the agenda in the gas industry, the Energy Industry Act obliges MIT.N, like all other gas network operators, to disconnect systems from the gas supply if safe continued operation cannot be guaranteed. This would be the case if the device was not adapted in time. "I would like to take this opportunity to expressly thank all of Staufenberg's gas customers for their excellent cooperation. Without their support, we would not have been able to successfully complete such a mammoth project," summarises Rüdiger Schwarz.
Not long to go
Due to its location in the German gas network as a whole, Staufenberg was already in line for the changeover. The remaining network area of MIT.N, i.e. the city of Giessen and the neighbouring municipalities, will follow in spring 2020. "In Staufenberg, we were able to gain valuable experience on a smaller scale, which will help us enormously in the upcoming major event next March and April," Rüdiger Schwarz is certain. And he immediately makes another request: "Our approach in Staufenberg has absolutely proved its worth. This is reflected, among other things, in the fact that we didn't have to cordon off a single appliance. All of our customers really did co-operate. We would be delighted if this could also be achieved in the rest of the network area. That's why I'm asking everyone to take our letters seriously." At the end of the day, everyone benefits. Because there is no way around the changeover itself.
Contact and further information
The specialists in the natural gas office of Mittelhessen Netz GmbH will answer all questions about the natural gas switchover, whether it has already been completed or is still pending.
Lahnstraße 31, 35398 Giessen
0641 708-1617,
E-mail egu@mit-n.de
www.mit-n.de/erdgasumstellung