Projects
Quantum optimisation for future gas network design Alpha
This Project develops a quantum-inspired optimisation approach to improve outage planning in gas transmission networks. It addresses current limitations in exploring complex planning scenarios by enabling systematic evaluation of a much larger number of options. The Project will design and test a prototype using real data allowing planners to make faster more informed and robust decisions. The solution has potential to be applied across both gas and electricity networks supporting whole-system planning improving efficiency and reducing network and customer risk.
- Electricity Distribution
- Electricity Transmission
- Gas Distribution
- Gas Transmission
A new and efficient way of detecting CO exposure
Working in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University this research project will aim to identify via a Proof-of-Concept model a new biomarker for Carbon Monoxide (CO) exposure that is sensitive to lower exposures persists in biofluids for longer than Carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) and can be measured using a Lateral Flow Test (LFT). Alongside this research the project will also carry out engagement with local communities in an information campaign and determine their attitude to a LFT for CO exposure.
CNG/LNG Feasibility for HGVs
Currently there is a planned future ban on diesel HGVs (2035 for <26t 2040 for >26t). This affects WWU as we operate a fleet of c. 1300 commercial vehicles including 58 HGVs.
This project will assess the potential for deploying WWU HGVs powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and biogas as low-carbon alternatives to diesel vehicles. The study aims to evaluate vehicle availability route suitability refuelling infrastructure fuelling frequency productivity emissions performance and long-term operational viability.
By investigating new options for our HGV Vehicles fuel WWU are looking to operate the network in a way which will assist with the whole system energy transition as in it lowers operational emissions. This is currently not done by any networks in GB so is a novel operational practice directly related to the operation of the network.
Plastic to Gas (CART) Feasibility Study
The project will deliver an integrated feasibility assessment of Carbon Recycling Technology (CART) combining laboratory validation independent technical due diligence and commercial analysis into a single unified decision framework.
The objective is to determine whether CART can be progressed to demonstrator projects and ultimately commercialised as a low-carbon gas-to-grid solution for waste plastics and develop technology from TRL 2 to TRL 5.
The project is to run for approximately 4 months and will establish baseline scalability of synthesis and grid injection of waste-derived synthetic natural gas (SNG). This will enable the creation of a strong evidence-based bid to pursue SIF funding to design and build a pilot scale CART demonstrator in future development stages.
SmartMOB
SmartMOB is a proof-of-concept project that will develop a data driven decision support model for the decarbonisation of multi-occupant buildings (MOBs) including flats apartments and mixed-use developments. MOBs present a significant decarbonisation challenge because they combine shared heating systems complex ownership structures diverse customer needs and practical constraints around reinforcement access cost allocation and disruption.
The project will explore how datasets across gas networks electricity networks local planning building data and representative customer-level data can be catalogued and connected. This will then be used to generate insight into heat demand patterns reinforcement needs appliance behaviour decarbonisation options and retrofit pathways.
The main outputs will include a catalogue of relevant data sources a data gap assessment analysis of high-rise gas energy demand stakeholder personas a prototype MOB decarbonisation model and a detailed pilot plan for a subsequent phase.
The Role of Gas Distribution Networks in Power Generation and CHP Phase 2
Phase 2 builds on Phase 1 by quantifying the long-term role system value and network interaction of gas distribution network-connected power generation. It will assess industrial and commercial combined heat and power and distribution-connected flexible generation under alternative decarbonisation pathways. The study will evaluate economic value system resilience future gas demand and interactions between gas and electricity infrastructure supporting network planning and engagement with the National Energy System Operator Ofgem and government.
Biomethane Connection Optimisation
This project will set out how biomethane connections processes can be standardised across all GDNs and National Gas and evaluate why biomethane producers don’t operate at full injection capacity.
Project GRID (Green Renewable Infrastructure Demand)
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.
Capacity Heat Mapping
Under current arrangements prospective producers may request shape files for our network which will provide information relating to gas network asset locations but until they submit an enquiry and receive initial analysis results there is no indication of capacity.
This project will produce a mapping platform to show where capacity for network entry is likely to be higher or lower this will allow producers to analyse the best points of the network to connect to based on capacity.
Innovation Highways Phase 3
Following on from the success of phase 2 the Innovation Highway phase 3 project will develop Project Synthesis a new AI-enabled capability within the Ideaonomy Highway platform. Project Synthesis will surface compare and synthesise historical innovation-project evidence against current SGN and National Gas innovation problems and challenge statements.
The capability will ingest and normalise project evidence from the Smarter Networks Portal (SNP) and Future Energy Networks (FEN) portal including HTML and PDF sources such as closure reports Project Eligibility Assessments (PEAs) and Annual Progress Reports. It will provide evidence-linked AI summaries showing what has worked what failed what has been learned and what remains unresolved so that learnings and outputs of previous knowledge can be more easily accessible.
This phase will help the energy networks reduce duplication of innovation spend improve the quality and auditability of evidence underpinning new project proposals shorten the time from problem identification to a fundable project and increase confidence under RIIO-GD3 scrutiny.
Biomethane Certificate Trading Platform
This project will deliver an initial assessment of the feasibility value and delivery options for an accessible biomethane certificate trading platform in the UK. The work will assess whether such a platform could reduce market friction increase participation and support growth in biomethane supply and demand.
Pipeline Revalidation using Quantum Sensors
To ensure ongoing safety compliance and operational efficiency WWU uses in-line inspection tools (commonly known as PIGs) to monitor the internal condition of these pipelines. These tools are critical for detecting corrosion cracking deformation and other defects.
A significant challenge within the existing P18 pipeline network is the uncertainty surrounding weld integrity. For many legacy sections the original inspection records are incomplete or unavailable; without reliable weld data it is difficult to determine whether these joints remain structurally sound or if deterioration may be developing below detection thresholds.
The project endeavours to determine whether advanced sensing can effectively assess the condition of target pipeline welding and other features defects or degradation and whether advanced sensors can be applied to existing or new PIGs to perform the weld inspection required.
The technology will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the condition of the existing network and its overall integrity and longevity beyond what is achievable through current testing methods. This enhanced insight will enable Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) to reclassify pipelines where appropriate thereby avoiding significant capital expenditure associated with uncovering welds of unknown quality during capital projects or damage assessments. Furthermore as reliance on natural gas declines this capability will enable the repurposing of existing assets rather than leaving them redundant or decommissioned.
The Warmth of Community Phase Two
The Welsh housing stock is particularly old. One third of homes were built before 1919. Just 10% were built in the last 18 years (Better Homes Better Wales Better World report commissioned by Welsh Government as of 2019) the older housing stock may reduce comfort for homeowners without increasing their energy demand.
This project will look to explore the opportunities that may be provided utilising gas hybrid solutions and also looking to calculate the impact of such technologies on gas and electricity demand and subsequently how networks that feed the supplies can be operated in a flexible way to maximise network efficiency and support better whole systems thinking.
EPRG - European Pipeline Research Group 26.27
The European Pipeline Research Group (EPRG) undertakes a wide range of research directed towards the increasing integrity and safety of gas pipelines. Topics such as fit for purpose assessments pipeline rehabilitation & repair techniques and corrosion constitute the major areas of concern for existing pipelines. EPRG projects heavily focus on design and construction of new pipelines through researching materials that allow for increased operational pressures and reduced pipeline thickness while maintaining safety. EPRG are involved with defect assessment and fracture management where the create guidelines to assess the severity and risk of detected defects in pressurised gas pipelines. Conducting full scale material tests to understand crack propagation under cycling loading or harsh environments forms the basis for fracture and fatigue studies. Collaboration on international research programmes through industry bodies such as EPRG is essential to ensure we benefit from leveraged research. Continued participation in EPRG allows National Gas Transmission and Cadent Gas to develop a breadth and depth of knowledge that can only be realised through leveraged research programmes providing maximum cost effectiveness to the customer.
Risk Assessment Methodologies for Pipelines & AGIs 2026-2027
The UK’s high pressure gas transmission and distribution networks-which comprise of buried pipelines and above ground installations (AGIs) pose potential major safety hazards in the rare event of gas release. Effectively managing these risks is challenging due to several interrelated issues such as outdated or fragmented risk assessment methodologies where existing tools and methodologies need to be continuously updated to reflect regulatory and standards change. Individual gas network operators do not experience enough major incidents to statistically derive meaningful failure frequencies. This limits their confidence in risk estimates unless data is pooled and collectively analysed across the industry. Risks vary significantly between diverse asset types and a consistent integrated methodology is hence needed to address this complexity.
National Gas Transmission and Cadent Gas must demonstrate through credible up-to-date safety cases that risks are understood quantified realistically and managed to as low as reasonably possible (ALARP). The continued enhancement of these methodologies will further strengthen assurance in risk management.
Biomethane feedstock deliverability
Cadent have been working with The Green Gas Taskforce to commission a series of reports that examine the benefits of greater biomethane generation to Great Britain’s energy system as well as the economic benefits that such volumes of green gas could provide. Work conducted by Alder BioInsights in their “Green Gas Future” report concluded that biomethane volumes of 120 TWh are possible in the UK by 2050 based on technical potential of UK feedstocks.
This project seeks to explore the operational emissions market and developmental implications of meeting the potential volumes published by Alder BioInsights (120 TWh pa by 2050) as well as the implications of meeting the NESO FES 25 Holistic Transition scenario relating to the production of biomethane in the UK (36 TWh per annum by 2035 and 64 TWh per annum by 2050).
The conclusions of this project will be published in a public report entitled “Delivering Green Gas” that:
- Outlines the viability benefits and key questions behind the integration of the UK’s agricultural supply chain AD industry and gas distribution networks.
- Highlights where they may be trade-offs or unintended consequences introduced by scaling feedstock production for biomethane and if there are ways that these can be addressed to mitigate the impact.
- Defines concrete actions that need to be taken in the agricultural sector by agricultural policy makers and others to unlock the feedstock volumes set out in the Alder BioInsights work and the NESO scenarios where this is appropriate and doesn’t introduce undesirable consequences.
- Sets out the broader economic and environmental benefits that could be provided in delivering these volumes of biomethane beyond the energy sector and particularly to the UK’s agricultural sector.
Project COLLABORATE
Project Collaborate will develop a national digital solution that enables highway authorities and utilities to plan collaborative streetworks proactively. The Alpha phase will deliver a functional prototype that automates the identification and notification of overlapping works enhances data sharing and supports early cross-sector collaboration. By integrating common data standards scalable architecture and stakeholder-driven process design the project will establish the technical and organisational foundations for national rollout. Working with a wide stakeholder group the Alpha phase will demonstrate how digital innovation can embed collaborative streetworks as standard Business as Usual (BaU) practice across the UK’s infrastructure sector.
AI Opportunities for Consumer Centric Network Expansion Alpha
This project enhances National Gas’s strong engagement processes as infrastructure activity accelerates. Discovery highlighted a clear opportunity to improve efficiency clarity and inclusion as consultation volumes and technical complexity increase. Alpha will assess three AI supported and human-centred solutions: HYRA (accessible first contact triage) LUMA (clear localised technical explanations) and SYNCC (interpreting community input to support planning). From these one will be selected for detailed prototyping and controlled testing during alpha. The work directly supports RIIOGT3 priorities by fostering trust strengthening dialogue and enabling timely delivery of multi-molecule network upgrades nationwide while improving accessibility for communities across the country
- Electricity Distribution
- Electricity Transmission
- Gas Distribution
- Gas Transmission
LPG to Biomethane Conversion
Wales & West Utilities (WWU) is undertaking a major programme of change to support decarbonisation and deliver a Net Zero gas network. This project explores the potential conversion of LPG networks within WWU to biomethane as a pathway to decarbonisation. The initiative is driven by the challenge of replacing LPG in rural off-grid communities where previous alternatives—such as hydrogen blending or full electrification—face significant technical storage and infrastructure constraints.
PE Service Pipe Disconnection Phase 2
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.