AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEMS IN NEXT-GENERATION ENERGY CARRIER NETWORKS: FROM BIOMETHANE TO GREEN HYDROGEN
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Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine how automation and digital control systems can enable the safe and efficient integration and transportation of next-generation gaseous energy carriers, primarily biomethane and green hydrogen, through existing pipeline infrastructure originally designed for natural gas. Methodology. The study is based on a structured review of peer-reviewed literature addressing four interconnected areas: modernisation of control systems on linear pipeline networks; gas quality monitoring, metering, and pressure management requirements for biomethane and hydrogen; infrastructure compatibility constraints arising from hydrogen’s material and physical properties; and the specific conditions of Ukrainian biomethane projects as a near-term energy transition pathway. Results. The study develops the Pipeline Carrier Transition Readiness Framework (PCTR), a four-domain, multi-indicator scoring tool designed to assess the readiness of existing pipeline segments for transition from natural gas to biomethane, hydrogen blends, or pure hydrogen service. Application of the PCTR to the Ukrainian context identifies gas quality monitoring and regulatory certification as the most critical near-term gaps. The analysis further demonstrates that automated monitoring and SCADA modernisation constitute essential prerequisites for a responsible transition to alternative gaseous energy carriers. Practical implications. The proposed framework can support pipeline operators, engineers, infrastructure planners, and decision-makers in identifying technical and regulatory gaps, prioritising infrastructure upgrades, and determining appropriate transition pathways for individual pipeline segments. In the Ukrainian context, substantial biomethane potential provides a viable near-term opportunity for developing the technological, monitoring, and regulatory capabilities required for the subsequent transition toward hydrogen-ready infrastructure. Value/originality. The principal contribution of the study is the development of the PCTR as an integrated assessment instrument that brings together automation, gas quality control, infrastructure compatibility, and transition requirements within a single structured framework. Unlike approaches that examine biomethane or hydrogen integration separately, the proposed model conceptualises their deployment as successive stages of pipeline infrastructure transformation, positioning biomethane integration as a practical intermediate step toward the longer-term development of hydrogen-ready networks.
How to Cite
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biomethane, green hydrogen, pipeline automation, SCADA, gas quality monitoring, carrier transition, Ukraine, energy infrastructure
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