Projects

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 is 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 seeks to improve the accuracy of CV measurement in gas networks which distribute blended gas streams. Element Digital Engineering will address this by first studying the physics of gas blending in the gas network using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). A wide range of simulations will enable the effects of different designs and mixing technologies to be understood in relation to the various gases under consideration. The predictions of these CFD studies will be validated through the design and development of a rig to simulate blending in the network. The overall results of these studies will be used to develop a tool that can be deployed within the gas networks to facilitate the accurate prediction of co-mingling and subsequent CV measurement points supporting the design of blending systems.

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 involves a comprehensive set of tasks aimed at implementing and validating a domestic safety system for hydrogen use including excess flow valves.

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.

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.

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.

Following completion of Phase 2 of the H21 Hydrogen Ready Components project this project will look to extend the methodology developed under this project to encompass the assessment of assets operating above 7 barg. The assessment tool will be incorporated into the LTS Futures blueprint methodology for repurposing existing Natural Gas transmission assets to hydrogen. The scope will include transmission assets above 7 barg and up to the maximum transmission pressure of 94 barg and will focus on the conversion to 100% hydrogen. Assets in scope will cover both above and below ground assets and include bends valves regulators slam shuts relief valves and pig traps. Assets excluded include pipelines compressors and cast iron components.

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

Significant efforts are required to support the transition of our energy systems moving away from carbon-intensive fuels such as coal diesel petrol and gas towards cleaner sources of power generation such as wind solar nuclear and hydrogen. There is a potential for hydrogen to play a hugely significant role in our energy system the extent of which will be driven by a range of factors including the ability to transport it to where it is needed. There have been recent positive decisions for hydrogen’s potential uses in blending transportation domestic heating and industry. To produce sufficient hydrogen to meet this potential need it will be important to increase and diversify hydrogen production methods.As nuclear is a reliable and consistent source of clean energy that is unaffected by external factors such as the weather Northern Gas Networks and Wales and West Utilities would like to investigate the possible use of nuclear power as a method of delivering the future increased demand in hydrogen production. This project will explore the opportunity for hydrogen production from nuclear to support a net zero transition across the gas network.Benefits of nuclear-enabled hydrogen (NEH) in the context of gas distribution networks (GDNs) will be explored building on the established benefits of nuclear energy production.The overall project outcome is that NGN WWU and other stakeholders are sufficiently informed to determine whether further investment and integration of nuclear-enabled hydrogen to transition plans are justified and how a potential first project could take its next step to deployment through securing technology licences sites off takers and financing.