Future Energy Networks

This Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) project investigated dew point management in hydrogen/natural gas blends, pure hydrogen and carbon dioxide transmission pipelines. In the National Transmission System (NTS), which is currently a natural gas network, the purity of the gas is carefully controlled via the network entry specification. Trace components, such as water, nitrogen oxides, sulphur containing compounds, oxygen and carbon dioxide have strict limits on their allowable levels in the network. This is done in part to ensure the gas delivered to end users meets the requirements of the customer, but also to protect transport and storage systems. Purity specifications are being developed for hydrogen, its blends with natural gas, and for carbon dioxide (CO₂). This project focused specifically on the water content within these gases, in what concentrations it is likely to be acceptable, the conditions at which it may condense in the network, its interactions with other trace components and contaminants and the potential detrimental effect on the network.

Limiting moisture content and ensuring gas dryness is important for several reasons:

• Safety & Efficiency: Hydrogen’s efficiency as a fuel can be compromised by moisture. Water in hydrogen can affect the combustion process, leading to a reduced efficiency for applications like gas turbines.
• Corrosion: If dew points aren’t controlled effectively, liquid can drop out of the gas phase, and this moisture can cause corrosion in pipelines and hydrogen embrittlement. For CO₂ pipelines this moisture can react to produce carbonic acid which can further corrode the pipelines.

The outcomes of the project should provide a clearer insight and strategy on how to effectively manage hydrogen and carbon dryness within the NTS, ensuring that the gas remains within the required specifications for current and future demands.

The project was split into three work packages (WP):

1. WP1 focused on hydrogen and its blends, initially reviewing the equations of state (EoS) that model the dew point temperature at varying water content and hydrogen/methane blend ratios. The impact on the network of liquid water formation in hydrogen was examined, including the interaction with other trace components such as CO₂ and H₂S, in particular the effect on welds and pipeline defects. Finally, a summary of international standards for hydrogen purity highlighted the likely water content limits that could be expected by hydrogen users and thus provided by producers.

2. WP2 focused on CO₂, its phase behaviour and the effect impurities have on this behaviour using the most appropriate equations of state. The detrimental effect of CO₂ and liquid water contained within it on pipelines, fittings and other parts of the network was reviewed.

3. WP3 focused on how the water content specifications could be managed on the network, from the point of view of monitoring and controlling water dew point in the gases. The water content expected from various production techniques were reviewed and a high-level costing for the dehydration process for both CO₂ and hydrogen was made.

Following the successful completion of Blending Implementation Plan (BIP) Phase 1 (Planning) in 2023 and BIP Phase 2A (Design) in 2025, the gas networks have engaged KPMG to proceed with the next phase of the programme, BIP Phase 2B (Delivery).

Running from February 2026 to November 2026, and focusing on Market Frameworks impacts, Phase 2B is required to build on the consensus achieved in Phase 2A and close out all implementation areas that require joint-decision making by the networks. These decisions pertain to detailed design of the application window and industry governance. The outcomes of Phase 2B will create a clear and consistent pathway for individual networks to support the application window and connections process, alongside addressing common areas of industry governance, based on collective decision making to meet timelines of future HAR.

This project has been initiated to assess the technical and commercial feasibility of direct hydrogen injection into the gas distribution network at 5% and 20% by volume. It supports the broader Market Frameworks appraisal by providing the evidence needed to evaluate whether both System Entry Models, direct injection and pre-blending are feasible under varying network conditions.

The need for this study was identified through the Hydrogen Blending Implementation Plan, which outlined two technical approaches for hydrogen connections: injecting hydrogen directly into the network or pre-blending it before entry, each with distinct technical and commercial implications. While National Gas has assessed both models for the transmission network, a gap analysis revealed that these findings are not directly transferable to the distribution network.

Evidence for pre-blending was previously completed as part of HyDeploy and the Hydrogen Blending Functional Specification project. It was shown that this approach provides more controlled mixing but may require more complex infrastructure, leading to higher costs for the producer. Although it is assumed Direct Injection may be achievable at lower cost, there are multiple key technical challenges associated with the technique such as the potential for inadequate hydrogen mixing, which could result in non-compliant gas, safety concerns including material integrity and operational constraints e.g. GSMR exclusion zones.

Through literature review, CFD modelling, engineering assessments, and commercial analysis, the study will evaluate the technical and safety, performance, risks, and cost implications of direct injection across a range of scenarios and configurations.

The Hydrogen Condition and Test Effect (HCATE) project will investigate the effect of moisture on fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) and the influence of loading rate on fracture toughness of API 5L X52 pipeline steel in hydrogen environments. The project will generate experimental data to improve understanding of how environmental conditions influence crack propagation behaviour and fracture resistance in pipeline steels.

Laboratory-scale testing will be conducted on representative pipeline material in air and pressurised gaseous hydrogen environments, including hydrogen saturated with water and hydrogen containing trace oxygen. These conditions are intended to simulate environmental conditions that may be present within pipeline systems.

Complementary fracture toughness testing will also be conducted at different loading rates to evaluate the influence of loading conditions on fracture resistance. The results will support the development of improved pipeline integrity assessments and contribute to the evidence base required for the safe repurposing of the UK Local Transmission System (LTS) for hydrogen transport.

The LTS Futures project aims to understand how the local transmission system (LTS) could be repurposed from Natural Gas to hydrogen. The project encompasses several elements which will feed into a blueprint methodology for repurposing the LTS to hydrogen. During one of the work elements, LTS Futures conducted full-scale testing of pipeline defects and small-bore connections exposed to hydrogen. Testing was conducted until failure to provide information for hydrogen pipeline design, standards, and operational procedures. This project will undertake further detailed analysis of the fracture surfaces to provide a visual confirmation of hydrogen diffusion into the pipeline microstructure and if this contributed to failure.

The key subject of HIRSA stage 2 projects is to understand if using hydrogen in the gas network will result in an increased likelihood of ignition from static discharge generated by particulates in flowing gas. Building on stage 2A, stage 2B will provide further experimental testing aimed at determining the absolute difference in electrostatic charge generated, identify whether any external factors impact one gas more than the other, and to control the factors affecting generation of the charge. The outputs of this work should provide the industry with a better understanding of the potential change in ignition risk when switching from Natural Gas to hydrogen and will also highlight relevant mitigations to manage this risk.

Laboratory and full-scale testing have demonstrated that hydrogen gas affects the fracture performance of pipeline steel welds. To avoid severe knockdown factors stipulated by existing hydrogen pipeline codes, mechanical property data from welds tested in high-pressure gaseous hydrogen is required to enable optimised operation of the NTS in hydrogen.

National Gas Transmission have conducted a series of fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth rate tests on a wide selection of pipeline steels and welds representative of those used on the National Transmission System (NTS). A thorough review of the welds tested and how these compare to the wider population of welds in service on the NTS is required to provide further confidence to use this data in pipeline repurposing assessments and for new build design.

This project is looking to address uncertainties surrounding LTS pipeline materials by investigating the effect of the oxide layer on hydrogen permeation rate for steel pipelines. This project will also investigate the formation of an oxide layer inside the pipe at different temperatures, as well as how the microstructure of the pipeline steel and condition of the oxide layer affect permeation for different grades of steel. It is critical this relation is better understood as these uncertainties are currently hindering our ability to fully and accurately assess the repurposing of the LTS. The outcomes of this project have the potential to increase cost-savings and improve confidence in the existing network to carry hydrogen, including blends.

This project will help WWU to understand considerations for 100% Hydrogen Rollout at a town scale, to inform future activity on preparation for repurposing. Areas will be chosen which are representative of different networks, housing stock and demographics, which will require different approaches and engagement.

Hydrogen Transition Pathways for Industrial Clusters (HTPIC) is a six-month, evidence led research and decision support project developed in response to the EIC’s call for innovation on the energy transition of industrial clusters. The project addresses the challenge of determining where, how and under what conditions hydrogen should play a role in decarbonising industrial clusters and surrounding communities, alongside credible alternative pathways.

Across the GB energy system, existing hydrogen programmes and studies are typically undertaken on a cluster-by-cluster or project-specific basis, using differing assumptions, scenarios and decision criteria. This makes it difficult for networks and policymakers to compare options consistently, understand system level trade-offs, or prioritise investment in a transparent and auditable way. The absence of a common decision framework increases the risk of misaligned investment, stranded assets and inconsistent outcomes across regions.

HTPIC aims to close this gap by providing NGN, Future Energy Networks (FEN) and Xoserve with a structured, repeatable decision framework that enables consistent, evidence-based comparison of hydrogen pathways across industrial clusters. The project integrates technical, economic, social and deliverability considerations within a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework, allowing complex evidence to be translated into clear and practical insights rather than standalone studies or narrative recommendations.

The project will be delivered in three stages:

• Stage 1 establishes a robust evidence baseline, including a comprehensive literature and evidence review, documented assumptions register and confirmation of scope and clusters.
• Stage 2 generates robust, comparable evidence across clusters through four analytical workstreams covering hydrogen supply and demand, gas coexistence and system configuration, conversion practicality and costs, and just-transition considerations, while developing and calibrating the MCDM framework with stakeholders.
• Stage 3 applies the agreed framework to undertake structured optioneering and scenario analysis, resulting in prioritised pathways, cluster-specific conversion playbooks and decision-ready outputs.

Key outputs include:

• a literature and evidence review with a transparent assumption register;
• a defensible options-rationalisation matrix and MCDM framework;
• a comprehensive report addressing the four research questions set out in the EIC brief, supported by an executive summary and cluster-specific annexes;
• cluster-level conversion playbooks translating analysis into practical, location-specific insights;
• pathway roadmaps to 2050; and
• a final dissemination pack to support knowledge sharing across NGN, FEN, Xoserve and Ofgem audiences .

HTPIC will support improved strategic planning for hydrogen and alternative decarbonisation pathways, reduce the risk of misaligned investment and stranded assets through structured prioritisation, and strengthen alignment between industrial cluster ambitions and network development plans. By providing a transparent and consistent decision framework, the project enables clearer sequencing of pathways, more robust comparison of hydrogen and alternative options, and improved confidence in future investment appraisal.

The project will also enhance understanding of affordability, workforce implications and wider community impacts, ensuring that pathway selection considers both technical feasibility and socio-economic factors. Through its systematic assessment of coexistence, conversion practicality and deliverability, HTPIC supports safer and more coordinated progression into downstream engineering and delivery programmes.

HTPIC will generate new system-level learning on hydrogen coexistence, conversion practicality and community impacts, presented through a structured, scenario-based and weighted decision framework that enables transparent comparison across industrial clusters. This learning will strengthen evidence-based decision making across networks and provide a clearer foundation for future programme development, regulatory engagement and investment planning.

Learning will be disseminated through the dissemination event, final report, executive summary and EIC knowledge-sharing channels, supporting wider GB network benefit.

The project commences at TRL 2, where the structured assessment methodology and decision framework are defined conceptually. Over the course of delivery, the framework will be applied across multiple industrial clusters, tested against real-world scenarios and stakeholder calibration, and analytically validated through structured optioneering.

By project close, the solution will have progressed to TRL 3, with the methodology demonstrated and validated in a decision-support context, delivering robust prioritisation and clearly articulated pathways.

The project does not include detailed engineering design, trials or implementation. Early-stage engineering, validation or delivery programmes across industrial clusters are already underway or in development through separate governance, funding and procurement routes. HTPIC is designed to strengthen and rationalise those activities by providing a structured evidence base and decision framework to support confident downstream investment and engineering decisions.

In order to support UK ambitions for hydrogen blending and the development of a hydrogen economy, National Gas will need to install new gas chromatographs with the capability to measure hydrogen up to 20% in a natural gas blend. At present hydrogen is not measured anywhere on the National Transmission System (NTS), and therefore there are no proven in-use devices, and limited experience within the company to allow effective decision making in deploying these assets in the move towards net zero.

In order to make informed decisions ahead of chromatograph fleet upgrade, and to allow for a wide selection of reliable device choices when it comes to that upgrade, National Gas require the testing of available devices to analyse their performance, and thus suitability for NTS installation. This project will employ a trusted testing house to obtain (through loaning) blend-ready chromatographs from suppliers, and then to rigorously examine the performance of those devices. These devices could be tested at the testing house’s site, or at the instrument vendor’s site.

IGEM have received requests from operators to update the hydrogen TD1 / TD13 supplements to take account of outputs from research projects. The project will review and assess the updates required based on findings from completed hydrogen research projects. This will support the repurposing of existing pipelines and installations from Natural Gas to hydrogen and Natural Gas/hydrogen blends, with input and support from users/stakeholders and formal approval by IGEM.

The project will also develop a methodology for fracture and fatigue assessments for existing Natural Gas pipelines to be repurposed to hydrogen service. This methodology will assess the impact of blends of hydrogen up to and including 100% hydrogen to determine whether pipeline derating and/or deblending is required. The requirements for the application of this specification should be included in the updates to the IGEM/TD/1 and IGEM/TD/13 hydrogen supplements.

Climate change-related events are increasing in frequency and consequence across Great Britain. Changing weather patterns are disrupting gas network assets, supply chains, and infrastructure, altering the risksandvulnerabilities on the network. This project aims to anticipate evolving weather trends impacting gas networks to ultimately reduce operational disruption and support SGN’s Climate Resilience Strategy.

The Innovation Highway phase 2 project will utilise AI and machine-learning to optimise the full innovation value chain. The platform will develop a minimum commercial product to help facilitate collaboration amongst networks, and other sectors such as water companies so they can innovate together. AI-empowered algorithms will simplify the identification, mapping, assessment and selection of problems and ideas, reducing manual processing time and enhancing effective decision making; this will support identifying and prioritising projects that will deliver the highest benefits. The platform will also help networks automate the development of cost benefit analysis.

Existing defect assessments and repair methodologies are aligned with the P/11, P/20 and PM/DAM1 management procedures and are adopted to inspect, assess and repair the pipelines for defects and take suitable measures to reduce them. However, the scope and applicability of these assessment and repair methodologies in the presence of gaseous phase carbon dioxide remain uncertain. The key challenges which the project aims to address are:

• Will existing repair techniques such as epoxy shell, welded shells, composite wraps, gouge dressing etc. be suitable for transmission of gaseous phase carbon dioxide?
• What are the different defects we may encounter or consider hazardous in the presence of carbon dioxide? What are the impacts of carbon dioxide on each defect type? And how much does water/corrosion exacerbate this?
• Have the mechanisms of failure for each defect type changed after introducing carbon dioxide?
• Can we implement the assessment and repair methodologies safely? Are the techniques safe and suitable for the pipeline operations and maintenance teams?

The project seeks to answer the above in addition to understanding the types and extent of repairs across the NTS and review the impact of carbon dioxide on the effectiveness of these inspection, assessment and mitigation technologies.

Being able to repurpose transmission assets for use with hydrogen and hydrogen blends can create a reliable and affordable option for decarbonising the UK and achieving Net Zero by 2050. A reliable and affordable energy system is needed to create “a fair, affordable and inclusive transition to low carbon energy” (OFGEM) for all consumers (vulnerable or otherwise).

ISCC is potentially a major risk to the integrity of high-pressure pipelines repurposed for hydrogen blends. A means of assessing the risk is required as part of a pipeline integrity management system. This project aims to develop a clear risk assessment methodology which updates and enhances the methodology under NIA_NGGD0008. The methodology will then be deployed and tested across the Cadent LTS pipeline network with physical inspections being carried out on locations with high risk of ISCC.

The LISTEN (Local Insights Supporting Transparent Energy Networks) project aims to create a scalable, data-led approach to understanding and building social consent for the energy transition. LISTEN integrates AI-driven tools, place-based engagement, and co-designed dashboards to help energy networks plan with communities, not just for them.

The platform brings together four core elements:

• Regional Dashboards: Visualising insights by geography, topic, and demographics to inform planning and engagement strategies.
• Multi-Source Data Capture: Synthesising local news, social media, planning documents, and community events for a holistic view of local feeling.
• Voice-Enabled Surveys: Capturing authentic community sentiment in people’s own words, with AI sentiment analysis assessing tone, confidence, and emotion.
• Tailored Recommendations: Providing SGN and partners with actionable insights and engagement strategies aligned with Ofgem’s fairness and consumer-centric priorities.

Leveraging AI to drive the evolution of standards to optimise and enhance the safe operation of energy networks by automating the extraction of key technical evidence from an expanse of R&D documents for the purpose of engineering policymaking.

NGN currently operate a Lotus Notes application with a bespoke electronic Logbook system to capture all of the activity with day and planned ahead that occurs within our gas control centre. This system has been in operation since 1997 and has proven to be a highly reliable and flexible tool to manage planned works, faults, general site activity and wider issues.

The current technology is outdated and contains years’ worth of data causing it to be slow. There are no links between Lotus notes and other vital control room applications (SCADA etc.). Raising faults becomes a tedious task and the Logbook and other in-apps are not user friendly. There are no updates available to improve the existing system.

The current system needs to be replaced but to achieve that we need a full exploration of where technology can deliver to our requirements, and to fully explore the impact of net zero and what new functionality may be required to manage the transition to net zero.

This is an early stage feasibility project to understand all of the challenges, opportunities and risks that UK GDNs face with their systems, in order to help facilitate the transition to net zero energy systems.

The MASiP Phase 3 is developing a new pipeline system to serve as an alternative to conventional steel pipelines in the transmission network. The material used in this pipeline will render it capable of transporting natural gas, biogas, and up to 100% hydrogen. Building on Phases 1 and 2, this phase focuses on the technical assessment of tight radius bends, tees, and damage repair, as well as the integration of live monitoring systems in a prototype operational environment.

Comprehensive validation will include connectors, coatings, repair systems, hot-tapping solutions, ground movement tolerance, durability, and design life testing. All testing will be carried out in accordance with IGEM, API, and ASME standards.

The key deliverable is a validated, deployable hydrogen-ready pipeline system that is safe, compliant, and cost-effective, offering potential cost savings of up to 50% compared with steel. The project outcomes will support the UK’s RIIO-GD2 strategy and 2050 net-zero targets by enabling hydrogen-ready infrastructure, improving monitoring, installation efficiency, and long-term reliability, while also providing the evidence base required for regulatory, policy, and industry acceptance of alternative pipeline materials.

This project is a research and analysis desktop study to provide a clear evidence base for regulatory and strategic governance pathways related to multi-occupancy building (MOB) decarbonisation. By mapping legislation, standards, and regional constraints, SGN will develop the building blocks for a decision-making framework to justify future investment and planning choices across various low-carbon technologies.

This project constitutes a research study exploring innovative opportunities to repurpose decommissioned gas pipelines and associated assets to support future energy systems and critical infrastructure needs.

By exploring diverse repurposing options beyond hydrogen and carbon dioxide, it is hoped that it will be possible to identify potential growth areas for gas pipeline assets that in some areas may otherwise become stranded. The study will include a review of economic viability, technical feasibility, and regulatory considerations for any identified options.

Situation:

As National Grid ESO transitions to the NESO it will take on the role of Regional Energy Strategic Planners, which will bring a focus on the alignment of Local Area Energy Plans and distribution network planning.

Complication:

Current regional distribution network future energy scenarios are produced by electricity distribution networks. Gas distribution networks do not have an equivalent activity Accordingly, regional and local area energy planning in not informed by a balanced consideration of all energy vectors.

Solution:

An agile and easy to use Whole Energy Systems Pathway (WESP) tool, with detailed temporal and spatial investment planning capabilities, to enable a regional whole energy system planning capability which informs gas network planning, as well as inform national, regional and local planners, in an objective, evidence based. way

This project will help Cadent to understand considerations for a Net Zero Multi-Vector at a town scale, to inform future activity on preparation for repurposing. An area will be chosen which is representative of different networks, housing stock and demographics, which will require different approaches and engagement.

The Technical Blueprint Project forms a critical enabling phase of Cadent’s Hydrogen Blending Implementation Programme. Its purpose is to translate existing high level hydrogen blending evidence into a detailed, network specific, asset level and operationally deliverable blueprint that defines what is required for the gas network to safely and compliantly accommodate hydrogen blends of up to 20% by volume, once regulatory approval is granted.

While previous industry projects have established that hydrogen blending is feasible in principle, many technical, operational and cost decisions remain at an asset, process, system and people level. These gaps currently prevent informed investment decisions and cannot be addressed through business‑as‑usual activity. This project addresses that gap by undertaking structured technical validation, impact refinement and mitigation definition across Cadent’s network, with a particular focus on the North West and East Midlands as pilot regions.

The project will coordinate specialist technical suppliers to validate prior hydrogen impact assessments against the most up‑to‑date safety evidence, identify and close remaining evidence gaps, and determine clear, final mitigation positions for all affected assets and operational activities. Outputs will be consolidated into a single, integrated technical blueprint, providing a sequenced and costed set of actions required to achieve “blend readiness”. Areas confirmed as having no impact will also be explicitly documented to avoid unnecessary future intervention and cost.

The Technical Blueprint will provide Cadent and wider GB networks with a robust, evidence‑based foundation to support future regulatory submissions, funding reopeners, and implementation planning. Learning generated will be transferable across gas distribution networks, supporting a coordinated, cost‑effective and safe transition toward hydrogen blending, while reducing long‑term consumer risk and avoiding premature or inefficient investment.