Future Energy Networks

The OptiSTORE project seeks to address the challenge of supply and demand imbalance within Wales & West Utilities’ (WWU) network as means to mitigate the need for storage, particularly in support of Net Zero ambitions, including the planning for development of new hydrogen pipelines and WWU’s existing HyLine programme.. Current geological hydrogen storage methods such as salt caverns, saline aquifers, and depleted oil and gas reservoirs are capital intensive, often technically complex and reliant on specific geological conditions which are less present across WWU’s geography.

Whilst hydrogen can be stored as a liquid, this process requires extremely low temperatures which is technically complex and costly due to the energy required to maintain such low temperatures. One promising alternative to this is Ammonia, which is attractive due to its lower storage temperature (-33°C versus -253°C for hydrogen), higher volumetric energy density, and existing infrastructure and regulatory familiarity.

This project will explore the feasibility of using ammonia as a means to provide supply-side flexibility of hydrogen to support industrial clusters and future hydrogen pipeline developments.

NGT is committed to supporting the government and the broader industry in achieving the Net Zero target by 2050. CCUS, alongside hydrogen, will play a critical role in reaching this goal. Since the existing infrastructure was originally designed for methane, adapting it to transport these new gases presents significant engineering challenges. To address this, an extensive research program has been launched to assess the technical feasibility of repurposing sections of the NTS for hydrogen and carbon dioxide transportation. While repurposing existing pipelines will be an essential part of the transition, it will not be sufficient, new infrastructure will be required to support a scalable hydrogen and carbon network. Given the ambitious deployment timelines, meeting these targets will require not only innovative technical solutions but also a holistic strategy that integrates the supply chain and fosters collaboration across the industry.

This project will develop and evaluate a predictive flood monitoring system for Above Ground Installations (AGIs) and pipeline assets using real-time sensor data and 48-hour surface water forecasting. The system will be deployed at four locations identified through a nationwide flood risk survey. The trial will assess the system’s accuracy, responsiveness, and operational value across diverse environments. The project supports climate adaptation, regulatory compliance, and asset resilience by enabling early warning and proactive intervention. It aligns with RIIO-2 NIA objectives by reducing flood-related disruption, enhancing safety, and informing future investment decisions. The project will conclude with a technical report and recommendations for wider rollout under RIIO-3.

The characteristics of transmission pressure hydrogen and natural gas blends are not fully understood, including relative leakage behaviour. This project will test whether or not methane and hydrogen within a blend leak at the same rates, or whether due to its small size, hydrogen will leak at a ratio greater than its relative concentration, and whether it leaks where methane does not.

Understanding the leak behaviour of hydrogen in a natural gas blend will ensure we can operate a blended system safely, particularly in enclosed spaces, and will ensure that the carbon benefit of hydrogen enrichment is not lost through fugitive emissions. Also, as green hydrogen is currently significantly more expensive than natural gas, the shrinkage costs associated with hydrogen fugitive emissions could be considerable.

This project will produce reports that will compare the Asset Interventions Database vs their asset base, to provide an estimated readiness rating and confidence level against the gas networks assets for the conversion to hydrogen, both 100% and blended.

This project will develop understanding of how the GB gas network would operate in a system aligned to Future Energy Scenarios (FES) 2025 scenarios for 2050.

The use of greener gases such as biomethane are an important part of the UK’s transition to net zero. Underground storage sites for biomethane are critical for balancing seasonal supply and demands for energy. However, increased levels of oxygen in biomethane can lead to corrosion of assets in wet gas conditions, compromising the integrity of storage facilities. This project will assess in a comparative analysis the technical and economic viability of advanced catalytic and adsorption technologies to reduce oxygen levels in biomethane with corrosion inhibitors to ensure the integrity and longevity of critical storage infrastructure.

This project is a first of its kind exploration into the applicability of quantum-inspired optimisation to improve and accelerate modelling of future gas transmission configurations and whole-systems planning. It will assess use cases where these techniques can enhance scenario coverage, integrate multiple additional energy vectors, address current computational limitations in modelling hydrogen and CO₂ networks, and improve granularity of planning outputs. By engaging National Gas and supported by NESO, the project will identify where quantum-inspired methods offer the greatest system-wide benefit, culminating in a prioritised use case and roadmap for Alpha-phase development.

Based on previous work, ROSEN Engineers believe the quantity of natural gas vented during commissioning operations can safely be reduced, by up to 80%, through targeted changes to direct purging procedures.

For Gas Distribution Networks’ (GDNs), gas venting remains a necessary part of normal operations for maintenance or safety purposes. Previous research work undertaken by ROSEN(UK) Limited for the EIC, with project partners Northern Gas Networks (NGN) and Wales and West Utilities (WWU), identified activities where venting of natural gas to atmosphere occurs (Gas Venting Research Project, NIA reference number NIA_NGN_282)

Renewable Energy Harvest unlocks the untapped power of Britain’s countryside by turning farm, food, and forestry residues into clean, flexible green gas. By combining biomethane and syngas production with advanced mapping and forecasting tools, the project will identify where rural resources can best connect into the gas network. This innovation supports a fair, low-carbon transition - cutting emissions, reducing costs, and keeping energy value in local communities. Backed by Northern Gas Networks and partners, Renewable Energy Harvest paves the way for smarter, more resilient infrastructure that helps Britain make better use of low-carbon gases for a decarbonised future energy system.