Natural gas networks in the Netherlands
An analysis of technical & institutional developments in relation to the network's integrity
A.H. Fehling (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)
Genserik L.L. Reniers – Mentor (TU Delft - Safety and Security Science)
Aad F. Correlje – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Economics of Technology and Innovation)
N. Rosmuller – Coach (Nederlands Instituut Publieke Veiligheid)
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Abstract
Over the last 30 years, different technical and governmental developments have taken place in the Dutch hazardous materials pipeline infrastructure. These have changed the utilization and governance of the system, with the transport of natural gas being one of the most important during this timeframe. Due to the danger of the transported material, the integrity of the system is crucial for its operation and performance. But with trends like liberalization, aging, and the energy transition, it raises the question whether this integrity is maintained. Also with many researchers analyzing either technical or governmental development, the combination has not yet been studied. The following main research question was formulated: What insights do we take when reflecting on the influence of technical and institutional developments on the integrity of the natural gas system in the Netherlands?
With the combination of desk research, interviews, and content analysis, the alignment between the technical and the governmental developments will be analyzed with the alignment perspective of Künneke, Groenewegen & Mènard. This information is then used to see if possible misalignments correspond to integrity perspective changes and issues of the infrastructure. Resulting eventually in insights into possible institutional or regulation deviations from what the system needed at that point in time.