Future Energy Networks

This project aims to develop a means of forecasting gas quality at the NTS offtakes, which will support current arrangements for target Calorific Value (CV) setting, allowing networks to more accurately provide target CVs to biomethane producers and reducing sudden changes in targets sent to biomethane sites which can cause operational problems. Going forward gas quality information on CV and potentially Wobbe will also assist the GDNs in managing hydrogen blend.

Novel green molecules have the potential to make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of the UK’s gas network, while also reducing system costs. Synthetic and e-methane can play a significant role in meeting future industrial demand as well as decarbonising the power, transport and domestic heat sectors. This project investigates novel green gases in more depth to understand how they can be implemented effectively and quickly deployed to decarbonise the gas sector in the UK.

The Phase 3 project on gas inhibitors for hydrogen pipelines aims to translate lab-scale findings into practical applications for the UK’s National Transmission System. It focuses on validating the effectiveness of oxygen and alternative inhibitors in mitigating hydrogen embrittlement, addressing unresolved safety and integrity concerns from previous phases, and designing a plan for safe integration into existing infrastructure. The project includes physical demonstration planning, and network design to assess technology implementation.

The Gas Network Evolution Simulator (GNES) is an innovative project aimed at optimising the transition away from natural gas by using advanced Agent Based Modelling (ABM). GNES simulates the complex interactions between stakeholders such as Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs), Electricity Networks, consumers, and policymakers. It analyses economic, social, and environmental impacts of gas network decommissioning and explores new infrastructure opportunities. By identifying challenges and benefits, GNES supports the development of cost-effective, equitable solutions that support vulnerable populations, ensuring a smooth transition to low-carbon energy sources while minimising consumer disruption and maximising network efficiency.

As the energy system transitions away from unabated natural gas and parts of the gas network are either decommissioned or repurposed to support the UK’s net zero goals, there is an increased risk of unintentional third-party damage to the network. Any supply interruptions to the transmission network would directly impact security of supply across the country and have a significant cost to customers including power generators, industry and domestic users. This project will investigate the benefits of moving from expensive, low frequency, manual network inspections to innovative AI assisted surveillance technologies in combination with satellite imagery and drones.

Green Gas Access will define tools to improve how green gas is managed across UK distribution networks, supporting net-zero goals. With fossil fuels still expected to dominate the energy mix by 2050, we must ensure resilient supply and avoid capacity loss as we integrate decentralised sources like biomethane. The solution is to enable real-time network operation, including dynamic supply modelling, scenario planning, and technology deployment. Key outcomes include: improved green gas injection control, better asset use, onboarding new suppliers efficiently, and supporting the transition to low-carbon systems through coordinated green gas, storage, and power-to-gas operation.

This project will assess the potential for biomethane production to deliver Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) through the capture, transport and permanent storage of biogenic CO₂ released during biogas upgrading, and through the utilisation of biomethane at facilities equipped with carbon capture.

The work will establish the potential scale and economics of biomethane-derived GGRs in the UK, assess opportunities to integrate biomethane with the developing UK Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) sector, and identify policy and commercial barriers currently limiting deployment.

The project will provide evidence to support the Green Gas Taskforce in demonstrating the potential contribution of green gases to the UK’s transition to Net Zero and informing future development of the GGR policy and business model framework.

This project will explore ventilation and explosion relief requirements for housing currently used on the gas network for pressure regulating installations (PRIs). Housings currently provide security from a range of factors from weather to vandalism, while also providing the necessary relief requirements in the event of an emergency. The understanding of these requirements for Natural Gas has been developed, however, work conducted in the IGEM TD/13 hydrogen supplement did not fully address whether these design specifications are suitable for use with Hydrogen. This multi-stage project will first explore the design specifications listed in industry standards (IGEM/TD/13, GIS/PRS/35, SGN/SP/CE/10, etc) and understand which of these may be appropriate and which may require redesign. The latter stage of this project will take the design specifications deemed to be unsuitable for use with hydrogen and conduct testing to develop revised design specifications which would provide the necessary relief requirements.

This project will explore the feasibility of integrating hydrogen train refuelling infrastructure to support the development of a hydrogen rail network. This has particular relevance to our network as some of the UK’s hardest to electrify rail routes are situated in Wales and South West England. The project will focus on these hard to electrify routes, exploring H2’s potential role in enabling their decarbonisation. If successful, this project can help the WWU network to become a proving ground for real-world delivery of impactful H2 rail technology. It is expected to provide information which can be used in planning strategic hydrogen pipeline routes and network repurposing plans, and support regional energy planning.

NIA_NGN_346 demonstrated that in a 100% hydrogen conversion scenario, hazardous areas of some above ground installations (AGIs) on the network would extend far beyond their current site boundaries. The Hazardous Area Impact Mitigation (HAIM) work programme was set up to investigate these findings and develop potential mitigations. Results highlighted discrepancies between the calculated values from the IGEM/SR/25 hydrogen supplement and empirical test measurements, as well as revealed the compound impact of rounding on calculated hazardous zones.

HAIM 3 will propose two methods to reduce the specified zones from AGIs based on the evidence to date:

• Refine the IGEM/SR/25 supplement based on evidence from the HAIM results.
• Use the knowledge gained during the HAIM works to adapt AGI vents and sites to reduce plume sizes and hence exclusion zones. This is independent of any changes to IGEM/SR/25 and can be applied in parallel.

Both methods independently act to reduce the specified zones surrounding vent pipes in AGIs.

Additional evidence gaps around hydrogen/Natural Gas blends up to 20% will be examined by replicating the phase 2 workshop tests for blends. During the project, additional opportunities will be sought to collaborate and share knowledge with any third-party studies of large-scale gas releases.