Projects

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 will undertake testing on technology for distributed production of low carbon hydrogen from natural gas biogas or other short chain hydrocarbons from waste. Which uses 90% less electricity than electrolysis of water and with 68% lower total energy costs.

The project will support early movers and convert gas from our network into a low carbon hydrogen solution. The compact and modular deployment of the technology enables hydrogen production systems to be installed directly at the energy user's site. These systems convert grid-supplied natural gas to hydrogen on demand eliminating the need for additional infrastructure or on-site hydrogen storage and leaves the rest of the network unaffected

The Cadent Hybrid Heating & Services Beyond the Meter (SBtM) project is a collaborative initiative between Cadent Gas and Guidehouse Europe aiming to trial a more integrated approach to delivering hybrid heating systems for vulnerable and fuel-poor households. The project seeks to bring together current approaches via schemes—such as Cadent’s own Services Beyond the Meter (SBtM) programme the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF)—into a single customer-focused pathway that combines appliance upgrades insulation heating system installations and tailored advice. Through a phased residential trial the project will coordinate the installation of hybrid heating technologies monitor impacts on customer bills and emissions and gather feedback from both consumers and industry stakeholders. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate the benefits of a joined-up approach to decarbonising home heating inform national policy and support Cadent’s role in achieving low-carbon heating targets while ensuring robust governance risk management and stakeholder engagement throughout the process.

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.

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.

In metering applications Equations of State (EoS) are mathematical models that are used to convert measured volumes to standard units. This enables transfer from volume to mass allowing customers to be billed and for the networked to be balanced in energy. Metering and network balancing cannot be performed in volume as it doesn’t account for relative varying gas component concentrations – and therefore CV.

The EoS currently used (AGA8) is acceptable for up to 5% hydrogen but after this point it’s uncertainty is unknown – meaning the network may be unable to maintain accurate billing or system balancing. This project will obtain experimental data for a range of net zero gases and compare the output of several EoS for accuracy against real measured NTS-representative conditions.

Laboratory and full-scale testing have demonstrated that hydrogen gas affects the fracture performance of pipeline steel welds. To avoid severe knockdown factors stipulated by existing hydrogen pipeline codes mechanical property data from welds tested in high-pressure gaseous hydrogen is required to enable optimised operation of the NTS in hydrogen.

National Gas Transmission have conducted a series of fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth rate tests on a wide selection of pipeline steels and welds representative of those used on the National Transmission System (NTS). A thorough review of the welds tested and how these compare to the wider population of welds in service on the NTS is required to provide further confidence to use this data in pipeline repurposing assessments and for new build design.

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.

National Gas Transmission (NGT) own and operate the UK’s National Transmission System (NTS) transporting natural gas from terminals to end users. NGT have ambitions to repurpose the existing to transport hydrogen and hydrogen blends. Understanding the impact of hydrogen on our existing assets is a key enabler for this.

This project will conduct design of flare for hydrogen and its blends and vent system for hydrogen its blends and carbon dioxide and offline physical testing to provide evidence that hydrogen / hydrogen blends could be flared and vented safely and environmentally in for NTS.

National Gas Transmission (NGT) are committed to reducing emissions from the operation of the National Transmission System (NTS) and eliminating emissions by 2050. The transition to hydrogen provides an opportunity to reduce carbon and utilise the network for hydrogen refuelling for transport. The HyNTS Deblending for Hydrogen Transport project has involved the development of a UK-wide rollout strategy from ERM that lays out demand clustering and potential locations for deblending supplied refuelling for transportation mapped against the NTS.

The project will aims to obtain further information on NRMM maritime cars LGVs and mobile power to fully understand the hydrogen demand. It will also review the existing rollout strategy to ensure it is accurate and full captures the current hydrogen market given the changes in this landscape

This study builds on previous technical work undertaken to support the 1 mol% oxygen Gas Safety Management Regulations (GSMR) amendment up to 38 barg. The work plan was targeted to focus on aspects that are more pertinent to the National Transmission System (NTS) including information from the current developments for European standards and supporting information from published studies on the impact of oxygen. The scope covered:

• Integrity – focusing on changes to corrosion rates and developing the understanding that increased oxygen content may have on the different factors that impact on corrosion rates.
• Measurement – considering the effect of higher oxygen content on the ability of the different analysers and equipment to measure accurately.
• Gas quality – reviewing the impact on key gas quality parameters and considering the potential impact on trace components that may be present.
• Pipeline “dryness” – investigating the impact of water dew point and water content and the effect of increased oxygen.
• Gas mixing – recognising that the flow from biomethane injection will in most cases be lower than the main pipeline flow deduce if higher oxygen content gas could be transported long distances through the pipeline network.
• Gas storage – building on available information to assess if higher oxygen content impacts on gas storage.
• Gas utilisation – identifying if there are end users that could be significantly impacted by elevated oxygen limits.
• Intermediate limits – considering if an intermediate limit would be preferential.

The scope was developed to provide technical evidence to understand the implications for the NTS recognising that this introduces additional factors that were not considered in the previous studies.

This project investigates the risk of air ingress in medium to large commercial gas installations particularly in the context of hydrogen transition. It builds on previous domestic-focused research and aims to understand whether similar risks and mitigation strategies apply to commercial systems. The project includes technical and behavioural assessments experimental testing analytical modelling and the identification of mitigation measures.

This project will help Cadent to understand considerations for a Net Zero Multi-Vector at a town scale to inform future activity on preparation for repurposing. An area will be chosen which is representative of different networks housing stock and demographics which will require different approaches and engagement.

As part of National Gas’s Three Molecule strategy the technical evidence for the transportation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide through the National Transmission system is being gathered through the HyNTS and CO₂ programmes. This technical evidence will feed into the updates of NGT’s suite of policies and procedures which are used to demonstrate compliance with the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (GSMR) Pipeline Safety Regulations (PSR) and Pressure System Safety Regulations (PSSR).

This project will develop the approaches to compliance with regulations for hydrogen hydrogen blends and CO₂ considering both new build and repurposed assets. The project will also define how the NTS Safety Case of the future will look including modular design and digitalisation to streamline access to information.

Develop credible and independently modelled pathways to test the economic case of developing a H₂ Backbone and prepare NGT for dialogue with NESO DESNZ HMT and a wider group of stakeholders.

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 Special Condition 5.6. 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.

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.

This project constitutes a research study which will explore how nuclear energy can support a whole system energy transition by providing for the energy requirements of low-carbon hydrogen and heat networks within regions where renewable energy potential is relatively low. These are areas where hydrogen demand will need to be met by imports unless hydrogen production methods can be increased and diversified.

As the hydrogen economy grows the need for flexible decentralised intermediate-scale hydrogen storage is becoming increasingly evident. While large-scale underground hydrogen storage in salt caverns and depleted gas fields will play a crucial role in long-term energy security distributed intermediate scale storage solutions are essential to bridge the gap between production and end-use ensuring reliability efficiency and resilience in hydrogen supply chains during the scale-up of the hydrogen economy. Decentralised storage facilities allow for hydrogen hubs to emerge in urban and industrial areas reducing reliance on long-distance transport infrastructure and supporting regional hydrogen economies.

A key unknown is whether the land use and geology of Wales and South West England can support intermediate-scale underground hydrogen storage (UHS) technologies. This project aims to map and assess potential storage sites within the WWU region aligning with broader energy infrastructure plans—including hydrogen and gas pipelines electricity networks industrial demand and renewable energy integration. The project will use WWU’s geology and geography as a case study and demonstrate how UHS options can support wider energy infrastructure in the region and beyond as well as future project plans. For this reason the outputs are expected to be of value to all networks.

To evaluate the feasibility of these storage solutions the University of Edinburgh will analyse rock property and strength data from publicly accessible British Geological Survey (BGS) datasets developing new insights into the engineering suitability of the region’s subsurface for hydrogen storage.

To maintain their above ground and underground pipework assets all Gas Distribution Networks (GDN) operate substantial fleets of commercial vehicles (primarily vans but also HGVs) together with mobile plant and powered equipment. Presently there is a complete reliance on hydrocarbon fuels primarily diesel and petrol. Both fuel types are usually sourced via the public retail forecourt network. Similar issues exist for other utility providers that operate underground and overground infrastructure.

Wales & West Utilities is undertaking a major programme of change to support decarbonisation and deliver a hydrogen-ready Net Zero gas network. Our distribution network iron mains replacement programme (Repex) requires significant excavation and pipe replacement activity laying long-life hydrogen-ready polyethylene pipe by a variety of means.

The project endeavours to identify a suite of suitable zero-emission mobile plant assets tools and equipment for carrying out Repex work that WWU could hire or purchase for operational trials and to identify opportunities for changing equipment items to simplify recharging/refuelling requirements in the future.

The objectives of this project are:

1. To analyse current energy demands sound pressure and vibration levels associated with existing ICE powered mobile plant assets ICE-powered tools and equipment and electrical equipment used for carrying out planned iron mains replacement work on the gas distribution network.
2. To estimate the future electrical energy demands (and sound pressure and vibration levels) placed by future zero-emission powered tools and equipment on a zero-emission site-based power generation facility.
3. To identify opportunities for changing equipment items to simplify recharging/refuelling requirements in future.
4. To identify a suite of suitable zero-emission mobile plant assets tools and equipment that WWU could hire (or purchase) and utilise for operational trials short and longer term. This will include the energy source and the means of recharging and/or refuelling on site and/or at regional depot locations.

The UK and Irish 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

Blending hydrogen and natural gas into the NTS has some clear benefits for supporting the transition of the energy industry in the UK to net zero in 2050 and is seen as an important intermediary step towards that goal.

It is expected that initially a low percentage hydrogen blend will be accepted onto the National Transmission System with this potentially increasing up to 20% hydrogen blends being accepted. However whether a hydrogen producer has to put in a specific blend percentage has not been determined and is unlikely. Therefore NGT need to develop the system to be able to effectively manage variable blends in addition to 2% 5% and 20% hydrogen blends.

This project will look into 4 key areas that might be directly impacted by hydrogen blend variability and require impact and risk assessments followed by investigations resulting in solution mapping and mitigation strategies being proposed. The key topics include establishing permissible limits for variability investigating how to manage interconnection from NTS to other countries understanding the effects of variability on stratification potential in the network and investigating the effects of variability on combustor/compression modelling.

The National Transmission System (NTS) uses dry scrubbers filters and strainers to remove contaminants in the gas stream. Introducing hydrogen raises new challenges due to its distinct properties which could affect the performance and efficiency of these existing cleaning assets. We completed a project that investigated the compatibility of these assets with hydrogen and hydrogen blends to ensure gas quality without compromising the safety or efficiency. An outcome was to get a deeper understanding of the fracture and fatigue behaviours of these equipment to better understand whether hydrogen will impact the material properties. This assessment will undertake a targeted CTR analysis to inform a future potential physical test programme.

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).

This project will see Cenex deliver a feasibility study on hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2ICE) as an alternative to diesel and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) within WWU’s operational fleet. This project comprises three distinct work packages (WPs) each feeding into a holistic assessment of H2ICE applicability across WWU’s vehicle assets. Cenex will apply its expertise in fleet decarbonisation alternative fuel technologies legislative policy analysis and techno-economic modelling to meet WWU’s scope requirements. All outputs will be suitable for internal strategic review and for sharing externally with partners and stakeholders.

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.

This project constitutes a research study exploring innovative opportunities to repurpose decommissioned gas pipelines and associated assets to support future energy systems and critical infrastructure needs.

By exploring diverse repurposing options beyond hydrogen and carbon dioxide it is hoped that it will be possible to identify potential growth areas for gas pipeline assets that in some areas may otherwise become stranded. The study will include a review of economic viability technical feasibility and regulatory considerations for any identified options.

Phase 1 of the project compiled a list of oils and greases considered to be gas-facing on the NTS along with identifying functional and material property requirements of these products. Proposed standards and testing methodologies were also outlined to inform the next phase of the project. In Phase 2 the project will proceed with additional required activities to ensure the safe utilisation of NTS oils/greases in a hydrogen pressurised environment. These activities include laboratory testing for lubricants and functional testing for sealants to assess degradation and performance of these products in hydrogen. Subsequently requirements for in-service monitoring will be identified.

Hydrogen design codes require fracture mechanics based design and qualification for high stress service. Procurement of a number of Long Lead Items (LLI) is required to construct commission and operate hydrogen networks. A number of these LLIs including induction bends and barred tees remain at a low technical readiness.

This project will carry out fracture toughness testing in a hydrogen environment to increase the technical readiness support the supply chain and achieve operational schedules.

As the owner of the National Transmission System (NTS) National Gas is committed to responsibly managing our redundant assets in a manner that contributes to a sustainable lower-carbon future by decommissioning them responsibly refurbishing for re-use where viable and/or or changing their purpose where possible. This discovery project will identify decommissioned elements of redundant pipework on the transmission system which are unlikely to be used for refurbishment or part of any wider repurposing of the core network and explore the potential of repurposing these for alternative uses including the storage and/or transmission of electrical energy heat fuels water and data.

Cadent proposes to trial “Digital Inspector” (DI) an innovative platform that enhances real-time control inspection and recording of pipeline construction activities. Digital Inspector provides verifiable evidence of weld quality supervises critical parameters live during construction and generates a complete digital record for asset integrity.

This project will trial Digital Inspector across multiple Cadent construction projects in 2025/26 working closely with Cadent’s contractors to assess practical usability contractor acceptance and the impact on existing BAU processes.

The Asset Cortex project is a Generative AI initiative by National Gas Transmission (NGT) aimed at transforming its legacy 4-level asset hierarchy into a deeper ISO 14224-compliant structure. This Proof of Concept (PoC) will explore the feasibility of using AI to infer component-level details from system-level data such as pressure and age enabling automated hierarchy generation. The project supports RIIO-GT3 objectives including predictive maintenance digital twin creation and improved asset lifecycle visibility. It will also enhance integration with systems like SAP and Copperleaf and streamline field force operations. Key phases include requirements capture data mapping AI model development benchmarking against manually collected data and final reporting. Grasby Bottom and Hatton Multi Junction sites will serve as testbeds. The project is expected to reduce manual effort improve scalability and lay the foundation for broader digital transformation. It will also inform IT infrastructure needs and data governance strategies. While the current phase focuses on feasibility successful validation could lead to full-scale deployment supporting NGT’s strategic goals around automation cost efficiency and sustainability. Asset Cortex is positioned as a foundational enabler for future infrastructure planning and operational excellence across the gas network.

The work will develop a pathway for the biomethane sector to monetise CO2 and identify the role the gas networks can play reducing the long-term cost of gas decarbonisation.

In order to construct commission and operate new hydrogen pipelines and installations safely and as part of modifications to existing assets for repurposing ball valves are required to carry out isolations. Selected ball valves need to have been proven to be suitable for service in large diameter high pressure hydrogen networks.

This project will carry out performance validation testing on a 32″ ball valve to confirm suitability to operate in high pressure hydrogen networks.

This project will assess the current and future role of gas distribution networks (GDNs) in supporting dispatchable electricity generation within a decarbonising UK energy system. It will identify method(s) for GDN operators to obtain accurate gas usage data from existing generation connections and develop future scenarios to inform network planning and investment.

This project will entail a feasibility study to assess the viability of developing a secure scalable and interoperable data sharing infrastructure for National Gas Transmission (NGT) supporting regulatory compliance stakeholder access and alignment with NESO’s DSI initiative. The main objective is to gain a better understanding of how we share data currently and how this will change moving forward both within established participants and enabling new participants and stakeholders to benefit from National Gas’s data. This will support the wider NESO led DSI initiative. Using two NGT data systems as a use case for this study

Green Gas Access will define tools to improve how green gas is managed across UK distribution networks supporting net-zero goals. With fossil fuels still expected to dominate the energy mix by 2050 we must ensure resilient supply and avoid capacity loss as we integrate decentralised sources like biomethane. The solution is to enable real-time network operation including dynamic supply modelling scenario planning and technology deployment. Key outcomes include: improved green gas injection control better asset use onboarding new suppliers efficiently and supporting the transition to low-carbon systems through coordinated green gas storage and power-to-gas operation.

IGEM have received requests from operators to update the hydrogen TD1 / TD13 supplements to take account of outputs from research projects. The project will review and assess the updates required based on findings from completed hydrogen research projects. This will support the repurposing of existing pipelines and installations from Natural Gas to hydrogen and Natural Gas/hydrogen blends with input and support from users/stakeholders and formal approval by IGEM.

The project will also develop a methodology for fracture and fatigue assessments for existing Natural Gas pipelines to be repurposed to hydrogen service. This methodology will assess the impact of blends of hydrogen up to and including 100% hydrogen to determine whether pipeline derating and/or deblending is required. The requirements for the application of this specification should be included in the updates to the IGEM/TD/1 and IGEM/TD/13 hydrogen supplements.

The Stopple technology is a flow stop tool essential for major projects and emergency works across the LTS and NTS gas network. Its capability was tested in 100% hydrogen within a helinite environment in line with LTS Futures parameters as phase 1. This project focuses on validating flow-stopping technology as an additional deliverable with LTS Futures live hydrogen trial on the Granton to Grangemouth pipeline as a welded tee and hot-tapping operations is already being carried out. The trial will confirm the Stopple train’s effectiveness as a double-block and bleed solution for a 100% hydrogen system which will be available for the UK Gas Network. The findings will provide critical insights into the safe and efficient operation of the hydrogen networks supporting the transition from natural gas to hydrogen.

This project has enormous potential to benefit all customers in vulnerable situations as it will provide accurate assessment of communities and all interested parties to provide suitable support to the area. This will enable GDN DNO Electricity transmission and Gas transmission partners such as community groups to specifically target areas with relevant support this will allow project partners to accurately provide information which will be bespoke to the specific needs of the area such as Carbon Monoxide awareness Priority Services Register messaging increasing awareness and registrations.

It will allow GDN’s or other service providers to enlist support for VCMA BAU or NIA projects directly addressing the needs of communities rather than adopting a broad-brush approach which has been the traditional approach. This system will present itself as the very foundation for future years projects and investments specifically as we progress through the energy system transition which will help address the very real and ever-changing needs of communities and vulnerable customers groups by putting data at the front and centre of future decision making for GDN’s and partners.

Wales and West Utilities are partnering with HydroStar Welsh Water and NGED to look at two demonstrator projects required from new electrolyser systems and the associated electrolyte that ensures resilience of hydrogen supply across the network giving best value for money and energy security within WWU’s network along with other UK wide Gas Distribution Network (GDN) customers.

Current electrolysers focus on stack-efficiency and hydrogen purity without considering real-world manufacturing and operational constraints and the high costs associated. This project focusses on utilising impurified-water e.g. rainwater storm-overflow and industrial process wastewater as feedstock which reduces operational constraints and costs for customers whilst enabling wide-scale uptake of low-carbon hydrogen.

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 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 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.

Gas networks supply embedded power stations that support the electricity network. These embedded generators can fire up without any warning to GDNs and is causing significant challenges to gas networks.

GDNs are required to submit hourly gas demand nominations to National Gas for each offtake point within specified time deadlines.

Embedded generators are small. They are not included in the UNC’s requirements to notify their GDN of intended offtake activity due to their size being below the threshold for NExAs (network exit agreements). Despite this GDNs must include the demand from these embedded generators in their nominations to ensure there is sufficient gas within their network. This causes numerous challenges for SGN and other GDNs.

GDNs’ current forecasting process does not specifically forecast embedded gas generation and current models do not take inputs from the electricity market. Embedded generators act in a variety of electricity markets yet GDNs don’t have visibility of this demand.

It is anticipated that additional embedded generators will connect in the coming months/years as the demand for electricity increases.The challenge of not having knowledge of embedded generator’s demand and its potential to contribute to a storage shortage has been acknowledged by both EGRIT (Electricity and Gas Resilience Task Group) and NESO (National Energy System Operator). The benefits of creating a notification platform supported by a ML engine are various. Namely to develop an ML-enabled forecasting tool to predict gas demand from embedded generators with increased accuracy as delivery time approaches. In addition to create a notification platform to improve real-time visibility of embedded generator activities within the electricity and gas networks.

This NIA project aims to progress the FEmGE forecasting tool from TRL 1 to TRL 7 delivering a fully functional MVP. NGN will be funding this project to the value of £92333 and SGN to £184666 of the total of £276999.

Linepack flexibility is key for Gas Transmission to provide system resilience by management of swings within operational limits. In a hydrogen world we know our energy content per km of linepack will decrease by up to 76%. Therefore embedded resilience systems in the form of lined rock shafts are being investigated to supplement loss in linepack capability. We envision systems if implemented for hydrogen transmission to act similar to how now decommissioned natural gas holders were utilised for operational flexibility pressure regulation supply/demand mismatch management load balancing emergency backup and production buffering.

Existing defect assessments and repair methodologies are aligned with the P/11 P/20 and PM/DAM1 management procedures and are adopted to inspect assess and repair the pipelines for defects and take suitable measures to reduce them. However the scope and applicability of these assessment and repair methodologies in the presence of gaseous phase carbon dioxide remain uncertain. The key challenges which the project aims to address are:

• Will existing repair techniques such as epoxy shell welded shells composite wraps gouge dressing etc. be suitable for transmission of gaseous phase carbon dioxide?
• What are the different defects we may encounter or consider hazardous in the presence of carbon dioxide? What are the impacts of carbon dioxide on each defect type? And how much does water/corrosion exacerbate this?
• Have the mechanisms of failure for each defect type changed after introducing carbon dioxide?
• Can we implement the assessment and repair methodologies safely? Are the techniques safe and suitable for the pipeline operations and maintenance teams?

The project seeks to answer the above in addition to understanding the types and extent of repairs across the NTS and review the impact of carbon dioxide on the effectiveness of these inspection assessment and mitigation technologies.

This project will update the Pathfinder tool to improve functionality and reflect more current underlying data. Use of the tool developed in this project should result in better choices regarding investment in energy saving measures

Existing defect assessments and repair methodologies are aligned with the T/PM/P/11 and T/PM/P/20 management procedures and are adopted to inspect assess and repair the pipelines for defects and take suitable measures to reduce them. However the scope and applicability of the repair techniques in the presence of high-pressure hydrogen remain uncertain. The key questions which form an outline of the project are:

1. What are the different types of defects we may encounter or consider injurious in the presence of hydrogen?
2. What is the impact of hydrogen on each defect type? Have the mechanisms of failure changed for each defect type after hydrogen-natural gas blending?
3. Will the existing repair techniques be applicable under transmission of high-pressure hydrogen and hydrogen-natural gas blends?
4. Can we implement the defect assessment inspection and repair methodologies safely? Are the techniques safe and suitable for the pipeline operations and maintenance teams?

The project seeks to answer the above in addition to understanding the types and extent of repairs across the NTS and assess the impact of hydrogen on the effectiveness of these inspection assessment and mitigation technologies.

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.