Future Energy Networks

As part of the National Gas Network Performance Twin program, this project is designed to demonstrate a scalable digital twin platform focused on improving infrastructure resilience, supporting hydrogen integration, and addressing climate adaptation across the National Transmission System (NTS). This initiative integrates three strategic components: Collaborative Visual Data Twin (CVDT) – a 3D BIM-based digital twin platform that visualises and monitors asset performance in real time. HyNTS Dataset Automation – a structured, automated geodatabase that supports hydrogen readiness assessments and asset integrity modelling. Flood Twin – a predictive flood simulation model that enables scenario-based risk analysis and resilience planning for Above Ground Installations (AGIs).

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.

The PE Service Pipe disconnection project is an evolution from the development project in phase 1, this project is a monitored field trial evaluating a new, non-excavation method for permanently disconnecting polyethylene (PE) gas service pipes that terminate in external meter boxes. Developed in collaboration with Steve Vick International and UK Gas Transporters, the technique uses a foam plug and sealant system deployed through the external emergency control valve to safely isolate and abandon the service pipe as near as reasonably practicable to the main. The aim is to demonstrate compliance with gas safety legislation while reducing the need for highway excavation, lowering costs, improving safety, and minimising disruption. The trial will gather operational, safety, and performance evidence to support potential wider adoption and HSE acceptance.

This RIIO-2 NIA project is a desktop research study designed to support the transition of the National Transmission System to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. It evaluates construction, commissioning, procurement and connection challenges and identifies scalable, standardisable solutions to support future Net Zero pipeline delivery.

The Unaccounted-for Gas (UAG) project aims to develop a predictive tool that identifies and quantifies UAG across the National Transmission System (NTS). Leveraging 12-18 months of SCADA data, the tool will simulate gas flow and metering behaviour to pinpoint anomalies and reduce losses. UAG currently represents significant financial cost to the consumer; even a 1% reduction could yield practical savings. The project aligns with RIIO-2 NIA criteria and supports regulatory compliance under the Gas Transporter Licence Part J of Special Condition 5.6 (System operator external incentives, revenues, and costs) requiring National Gas to undertake work to investigate the causes of UAG. It builds on prior research and integrates learnings from international benchmarks. The initiative will enhance operational efficiency, improve data transparency, and support long-term decarbonisation goals through better system visibility and control.

Repurposing of natural gas pipelines made of carbon steel for use with hydrogen blends requires a fitness-for-service analysis as part of the hydrogen use safety case. Girth welds of an unknown quality exist in the Local Transmission System (LTS). In hydrogen service these welds would have a greater susceptibility to fracture failure due to material embrittlement caused by interaction of steel material with hydrogen.

Current inspection methods do not routinely inspect girth welds for defects. Deterministic defect assessment models require the use of conservative assumptions for defect sizes, material properties and loading. This can lead to overly pessimistic conclusions about the suitability of pipelines with girth welds for use with hydrogen.

More detailed probability-based assessments are required to reduce the inherent pessimism in deterministic calculation methods. This would provide confidence of the safety and allow for greater use of the LTS with hydrogen and contribute to a quicker and cheaper energy transition for the UK gas network.

Biomethane is key to decarbonising the UKs gas network. However, in comparison to Natural Gas, it has a lower energy density and requires enrichment before injection into the gas network. Currently Propane is used, a fossil fuel, undermining the environmental credentials of biomethane, increasing production cost and introducing bituminous elements causing down-time in biomethane plants. Project CLEAN GREEN will identify alternative green enrichment gases to fossil Propane, and consider how improved measurement technology can inform network intelligence to optimise Biomethane injection. This will lead to improvements in cost, carbon efficiency and injection volumes of Biomethane into the distribution networks.

In 2022 a consortium of Urenco, EDF, the UK Atomic Energy Authority and Bristol University were awarded £7.7m worth of funding from the UK Government Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to develop a hydrogen storage solution, HyDUS. This solution could help to alleviate storage across GB. Unlike conventional storage approaches that rely on salt caverns or depleted fields, HYDUS uses modular metal hydride technology, enabling above ground deployment in geologically constrained areas.

This project will evaluate the feasibility and value of deploying HyDUS, a modular above-ground hydrogen storage system, as a means of storage across GB. The project will use WWU’s proposed HyLine hydrogen transmission corridor in Wales and South West England as a case study.

Project GRID (Green Renewable Infrastructure Demand) will investigate how biomethane can support the decarbonisation of two strategically important sectors: heavy goods vehicle (HGV) transport and data centres. The project will assess the technical, commercial and operational feasibility of using biomethane as a low-carbon fuel for freight transport and as a primary or backup energy source for data centres.

The project will undertake a detailed review of previous work, stakeholder engagement programme and spatial analysis to understand future demand, available biomethane supply and opportunities for deployment. Detailed assessments will then be completed for Somerset Council’s fleet and for current and future data centre developments within the Wales & West Utilities (WWU) network area.

The outputs will provide evidence on how biomethane can support economic growth, facilitate decarbonisation, make greater use of indigenous renewable gas resources and potentially unlock additional biomethane injection opportunities across gas distribution networks.