Future Energy Networks

This project constitutes a research study assessing the future demand for hydrogen across SGN regions and the role SGN infrastructure could play in facilitating access to hydrogen.

As the UK transitions to a low-carbon energy future, gas networks must consider how strategic utilisation of existing assets can be realised. Using SGN’s extensive gas network to carry hydrogen instead of natural gas would be a major step towards decarbonisation. This repurposing necessitates an understanding of both the technical feasibility of repurposing pipelines to carry hydrogen, and future hydrogen demand requirements.

This project will help to inform UK Gas Distribution Network Operators (GDNOs) and wider industry on the impact of the potential for air ingress into gas-conveying pipework in MOBs. The mechanisms for air ingress into gas-conveying pipework have been shown to be gas agnostic, though this project will focus on impacts specific to future hydrogen distribution to MOBs.

This project will consider what role the below ground gas network (new or repurposed) could play in transporting energy over long distances, instead of electricity transmission and distribution upgrades. The project will help WWU understand how the use of the current or future gas system would compare to electricity infrastructure for long distance transmission, and what factors could influence cross system decision making. The project will also create a comparison tool that allows users to compare case studies.

The project aims to use a vehicle-mounted thermal camera and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect heat loss from homes on a city-wide scale. The data will be used to assess the condition of a property regarding its ability to retain heat and provide tailored recommendations addressing insulation problems. This critical first step allows for better targeting of necessary retrofits and offers a scientifically measured alternative or complementary approach to traditional EPC.

The project will evaluate and deliver a plan that ensures our asset records are suitably complete to support the net zero transition.

The project will reduce uncertainty and risk and provide a more realistic proximation of asset data.

The HSE has indicated that it will be unable to support a network’s hydrogen safety case until they receive “a clear plan for checking unknown assets and how networks will ensure that only suitable materials are present in the network”. This includes our transmission pipelines.

Additionally, for the marginal extra effort, it would be prudent to ensure the completeness of our asset records is sufficient for us to either plan for the conversion to hydrogen or decommission sections as users switch to other heating technologies.

Augmented Reality (AR) technology will be used at Futures Close to convey and inform various audiences including vulnerable consumers about various property archetypes, their construction, heat loss, and the type of retrofit solutions (heating systems, controls, fabric improvements) available to improve the level of domestic energy efficiency. AR will be used to inform, educate and engage audiences on-site at Futures Close as well as off-site at conferences and meetings avoiding the need to facilitate multiple visits on site. Live data feeds will also be visualised, illustrating room-by-room temperature, humidity as well as other metrics providing an engaging, interactive and informative asset for Futures Close.

To achieve decarbonisation targets all gas network operators in the UK need to demonstrate that the gas network can safely, technically and economically facilitate the distribution of low-carbon gases (biomethane and hydrogen). In response to this challenge, SGN aim to review the feasibility of the formation of biomethane islands in their Scotland area of operation. The outputs of this project will establish a business model for the optimisation of biomethane injection and formation of biomethane islands across the UK’s gas network. A feasibility study will address key areas including regulatory, technical, environmental, social, and commercial aspects as well as comprehensively assess the viability of developing Biomethane Islands. The outcome of the feasibility study will be to inform decision-making regarding project implementation. This will be captured and delivered in a comprehensive report and financial model of the business case. These islands will serve as models for sustainable living, demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of a circular economy approach to energy production and waste management and offer a low disruption option for the decarbonisation of all classes of gas consumers - Industrial, Commercial, and Domestic.

The UK gas networks are undergoing a major transition to support the integration of green gases, including biomethane and hydrogen. A significant challenge is the inability of the current gas billing infrastructure, based on flow-weighted average calorific value (CV) measurements taken at National Transmission System (NTS) offtakes, to accurately reflect the gas composition received by consumers—particularly with the increasing number of decentralised injection points. This discrepancy presents a technical and regulatory hurdle to achieving fair and transparent billing.

This programme is leveraging 3 suppliers to develop a range of novel calorific value sensors that will enable calorific value to be accurately measured at different points on the network without the need for venting.

The programme comprises of 3 individual projects, which will develop each suppliers’ technology up to a sufficiently high TRL where the sensors are ready to be trialled in the field. Each supplier will be delivering their own scope of work, but will be expected to share a reasonable amount of information with each other in order to ensure maximum value is obtained from this programme. The innovators will not be expected to disclose any information that could provide them with a competitive advantage over the other solutions

As the UK transitions to a low-carbon energy future, gas networks must consider how strategic utilisation of existing assets can be realised. GDNs must also consider adjacent markets such as CCUS and its role in the supply chain now and in the future. The project will take a pragmatic approach to provide SGN with an assessment of the role of the gas network in the growing UK CCUS market

Decarbonisation of UK transport, and the related Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate requires companies to transition their commercial vehicle fleets to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) or alternative new emerging technologies (e.g. FCEC). As an operational utility network with responsibility for public safety WWU’s fleet undergoes a more challenging and varied range of duty cycles than most commercial fleets, includes vehicles that are required to provide on-site power, and must be capable of meeting WWU’s statutory duty to respond quickly to Public Reported Escapes.

Within this challenging operational context, WWU must deliver a fleet transition at the lowest feasible cost to assure value for money for our customers. This is further complicated by the need to plan the fleet transition while the associated technological and policy landscape continues to evolve in parallel. Although the learnings generated from the project will be specific to WWU’s fleet as a case study, they will be applicable to any networks with an operational fleet.

To assure a cost-effective transition and derisk future operations, WWU require a Total Cost of Operation (TCO) model. This will be specifically targeted at our particular operational context, capable of assessing the costs and capabilities of a range of ZEV options, and crucially must be easy for staff to adopt for internal use and update in the future as new data and/or technologies become available.

The purpose of this project is to provide WWU with a TCO model that addresses our specific operational requirements, ensuring that plans and investment decisions will be grounded in real-world technology assessments and our operational fleet data.

This project constitutes a research study investigating the opportunities for gas network infrastructure to support storage and balancing in a decentralised UK energy system. The research will consider how a decentralised system might look in the UK from now until 2030, and onto 2050. An evaluation will be made of how other countries are approaching decentralisation, identifying examples the UK could draw on. Consideration will be given to how grid balancing will be achieved across various scenarios of peak demand and particular geographic locations in the UK and what challenges and opportunities this presents to gas networks.

Wales & West Utilities is undertaking a major programme of change to support decarbonisation and deliver a Net Zero gas network. Decarbonisation of the vehicle fleet is an integral component of that programme.

WWU operates a fleet of nearly 1,400 commercial vehicles, the majority of these being vans up to 3.5 tonnes GVW. Our fleet – mostly diesel-fuelled - plays a crucial role in providing a safe and efficient service. In addition to our vehicle fleet, WWU operates ~ 900 items of mobile plant, including mini diggers and a wide range of trailers, many of which are specialised.

WWU vans carry a wide range of power-operated tools and equipment, some of this currently being powered by hydrocarbon fuels, some by electricity and some by compressed air. Approximately a third of our van fleet (~400 units) is equipped with ‘full on-board power’ – a compressor and generator, mounted under the van floor and mechanically driven by the diesel engine and operating as a source of on-site power.

This group of vehicles primarily supports below-ground network repair and replacement activity: it is a significant energy consumer, so to help us understand how we can make an operationally cost-effective transition to zero emissions, it is the on-site energy requirements of the tools and equipment powered by this group that Cenex will evaluate for this project. This evaluation will provide information which can take account of (and feed in to) a range of different scenarios for the fleet in the future, such as changes to the number and type of vans allocated to particular teams and projects.

This project will help to provide assurance to UK Gas Distribution Network Operators (GDNOs) and wider industry on the safe design of domestic gas appliances in a future where hydrogen is being distributed in network pipelines. A risk to the normal safe operation of appliances under 100% hydrogen operation exists where a flammable hydrogen/air mixture is supplied to the appliance, creating the potential for flashback to occur within the gas installation pipework. This work will provide assurance that domestic appliances designed to operate on 100% hydrogen are designed in a way which do not enable flashback to occur.

The project will also investigate the long-term feasibility of installing an auto-locking Emergency Control Valve (ECV) at the end of 100% hydrogen networks to ensure that any reinstatement of supply after a period of isolation can only be undertaken by a competent gas engineer.

Wales & West Utilities is undertaking a major programme of change to support decarbonisation and deliver a Net Zero gas network. The primary objective of this project is to investigate the effects of water ingress within a 100% hydrogen network and a blended hydrogen/natural gas network. The goal is to determine whether the introduction of hydrogen into the gas network could cause any additional impacts when water ingress occurs, and to compare these effects to those observed in the current natural gas network.

The UK Government recognised that domestic biomethane production can play a significant role in decarbonising energy supplies. However, biomethane production plants face technical and operational challenges. Currently the content of biomethane within biogas produced from the anaerobic digestion (AD) process is often only around 50%. This partial conversion results in lower yields for AD operators and an increase in costly gas scrubbing requirements. The increased presence of impurity gases also increases requirement for propanation to increase the calorific value, high in both cost and carbon footprint.

This project seeks to address these challenges through the injection of green hydrogen into the AD process in specific quantities and at specific times to achieve greater conversion of carbon dioxide to biomethane within the acetogenesis stage of the AD process, thereby increasing the yield whilst reducing the need for gas scrubbing and propanation.

This project will help to inform UK Gas Distribution Network Operators (GDNOs) and wider industry on the long-term suitability of existing Excess Flow Valve (EFV) designs in a future where hydrogen is being distributed in network pipelines. A risk to normal EFV functionality exists in the event that an ignition occurs within the downstream gas installation pipework and this project will help to understand the effectiveness of existing EFV designs to manage this risk, identifying any necessary modifications to existing EFV designs where appropriate.

The Fairer Warmth Hub (FWH) connects stakeholders of the Net Zero Transition through place-based strategies, providing tools and guidance to facilitate local energy plans and enhance collaboration. The FWH integrates digital tools and community engagement to facilitate effective communication and planning among diverse stakeholders, including households, small businesses, and local authorities. FWH is designed to bridge the gap in the energy transition by providing tailored support to these stakeholders, ensuring that the transition is inclusive and just. The FWH integrates three core elements:

• Trained ‘Champions’ – Volunteers or staff, known as Champions, are recruited and trained to support community engagement, helping to build trust and reduce miscommunication in local energy initiatives.
• Digital Tools (Virtual Assets) – Innovative digital tools (App + Website) and resources are used to facilitate energy transition planning and community engagement, particularly assisting Customer In Vulnerable Situation (CIVS) and those who are digitally excluded.
• Community Centres (Non-Virtual Assets) – Physical community hubs serve as accessible locations for hands-on support, providing a space for CIVS and other stakeholders to engage directly in the energy transition.

Analysis of the distribution networks undertaken in the H2 Caledonia and H2 Connect projects has identified sectorisation isolation as the optimal approach for conversion. Sectorisation isolation allows for a sector-by-sector approach, ensuring the gradual conversion of existing Natural Gas connections over to hydrogen, or managing the disconnection process should customers opt for alternative heating solutions. This project will aim to develop an understanding of the technical and financial feasibility of a Flexible Gas Transition Plant (FGTP) through primary project outputs such as: outline of design options, development of a list of transition use cases, a cost benefit analysis (CBA) for each transition scenario, and a roadmap for future phases including prototype design and trials.

Following the work completed on the policies and procedures project by QEMS, WWU have identified the requirement to update and re-vamp the existing Safe control of operations (SCO) procedures used by the network to support delivery of upcoming projects.

FutureGrid CO2 is the final phase of a suite of Carbon Dioxide projects, looking at how National Gas can repurpose parts of its network to transport gaseous-phase Carbon Dioxide safely. What started out as literature reviews and feasibility studies, will turn into, physical testing and demonstration. National Gas will be using its world-leading FutureGrid facility to demonstrate how Carbon Dioxide will flow through its pipes, delivering on its promise to further use this facility after our successful FutureGrid SIF Beta projects. We will also be completing carbon dioxide venting, ruptures and real-time impurity corrosion tests- all of which are underexplored.

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.

This project will focus on barholing operations conducted after an emergency gas escape within the H100 Fife Distribution Network Operations. The scope will consider H100 scenarios, specifically the establishment of a new distribution network to deliver Hydrogen to selected properties in the conversion area. The minimum pressure for the H100 Fife Distribution network is 27 mbar, and the maximum pressure is 75 mbar. The aim of this project is to provide further evidence to support SGN operations on the H100 distribution network during emergencies and any future trials or broader rollouts of Hydrogen.

Steer Energy has been identified as a suitable contractor for executing this project due to their extensive expertise in this field and their previous work on the Barhole Trials and ITL Haldane Drill Isolator project. Steer has a proven partnership with SGN and the wider gas industry, offering a variety of services, including experimental lab testing, training, and testing facilities.

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.

This project will produce valuable insights into understanding the relationship between human behaviours and the utilisation of safety devices with automated functionality. This follows the work done on hydrogen risk mitigations which included technology such as hydrogen detectors with automated functionality to remotely notify the emergency call centre to dispatch an engineer to the detected leak. In their review of this work, HSE have asked if the assumption that consumers will continue to act the same, knowing the device will be doing some automated, will change the validity of the modelling assumptions. This project will address that query and build on our own understanding of consumer insights; something which could add a depth of value to other projects exploring automated safety systems.

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.