Projects

Digital exclusion remains a significant and persistent challenge across the UK with approximately 10 million people unable to access online services due to a lack of internet connectivity digital skills or confidence. In rural and remote communities this challenge is compounded by poor infrastructure and geographic isolation. For households already identified as vulnerable the inability to receive timely communications from energy networks can have serious consequences.

Energy networks currently rely on a standard set of channels to communicate critical information such as planned outages safety alerts and emergency notifications. Letters go unread door-knocking is costly and slow SMS messages are widely distrusted and digital channels by definition exclude the very households that need the most support. No single channel reliably reaches digitally excluded consumers at speed. This gap represents both a safeguarding risk for customers and a significant compliance and reputational challenge for networks operating under Ofgem’s consumer vulnerability obligations.

This project proposes a fundamentally new approach: the Message Beacon is a low-cost physical internet-free device distributed to households to alert customers that an important energy network message is available to be read. The notification signal is received via Bluetooth or NFC from a nearby mobile asset (such as a van field engineer or bin lorry) and is represented on the Message Beacon using a flashing LED. The customer taps the Message Beacon with an NFC-enabled smart device to display the energy network message. No internet connection is required in the home and no digital literacy is assumed. The Message Beacon brings the message to the person rather than expecting the person to come to the channel.

This project aims to design and validate the Message Beacon concept establishing the foundational design user research and hardware groundwork that will enable a full real-world pilot in Phase 2.

Phase 1 will deliver four discrete tangible outputs each meaningful in its own right and each a direct input into the Phase 2 build:

• Front-of-House Initial Design: User journey maps covering how different household types will encounter and use the Beacon; initial design of the physical form factor LED notification NFC tap-to-read interaction and message display; first-round prototype tested with participants; all design decisions documented with rationale grounded in user research.
• Back-of-House Initial Design: Research with network comms teams on message types triggers and operational workflow; user journey maps for network staff; initial interface designs for message creation household management and read-receipt reporting; analytics framework for Phase 2 evaluation.
• Technical End-to-End Flow: Full system architecture from message creation through transmission to NFC tap and display in the home; hardware and software brief with security model; assessment of NFC BLE and battery architecture; basis for the Phase 2 development brief.
• Prototype Plan and Experimental Builds: Hardware technical diagrams; sourced components; initial experimental Beacon devices demonstrating the core NFC BLE and LED interaction; manufacturing and cost assessment for Phase 2 production run of 30–50 units.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

• Start TRL: 2 (Technology concept formulated)The Message Beacon has been identified through prior research as the strongest candidate solution but exists only as a concept. No integrated system design user-tested interface or functioning hardware has been produced.
• End TRL: 4 (Technology validated in laboratory environment)By the end of Phase 1 the core system architecture will have been designed and validated experimental Beacon hardware will have been built and tested and both the front-of-house and back-of-house interfaces will have been prototyped and tested with real users in controlled settings.

This project will deliver independent evidence‑based research on consumer behavioural insights relating to domestic heat sources during the energy system transition. It comprises four work packages (WP0–WP4) that build on one another to create tangible outputs for WWU and other Network Licensees: desk research and gap analysis (WP1) SME engagement and sentiment analysis (WP2) consumer research including a 4000‑respondent survey user‑journey mapping and CIVS insights (WP3) and integration of insights through decision trees synthetic population modelling and cost‑benefit analysis (WP4).

The LISTEN (Local Insights Supporting Transparent Energy Networks) project aims to create a scalable data-led approach to understanding and building social consent for the energy transition. LISTEN integrates AI-driven tools place-based engagement and co-designed dashboards to help energy networks plan with communities not just for them.

The platform brings together four core elements:

• Regional Dashboards: Visualising insights by geography topic and demographics to inform planning and engagement strategies.
• Multi-Source Data Capture: Synthesising local news social media planning documents and community events for a holistic view of local feeling.
• Voice-Enabled Surveys: Capturing authentic community sentiment in people’s own words with AI sentiment analysis assessing tone confidence and emotion.
• Tailored Recommendations: Providing SGN and partners with actionable insights and engagement strategies aligned with Ofgem’s fairness and consumer-centric priorities.

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.

This project constitutes a focused feasibility assessment of local biomethane market models with the objective of determining how decentralised commercial arrangements can enable increased participation from small-scale and community anaerobic digestion (AD) producers. The study will examine commercial structures regulatory considerations and stakeholder readiness associated with enabling localised trading of green gas through existing distribution networks. It will assess the interaction between market design connection approaches and consumer engagement to identify viable pathways for implementation and scale-up.

The consultant will deliver a report demonstrating the Gross Value Added (GVA) benefits of biomethane and jobs created and/or maintained from greater biomethane generation across upstream midstream and downstream and the particular benefit provided to GB’s rural communities.

This will be a build on the Economics of Biomethane project conducted by Baringa for the Taskforce and would be expected to leverage analyses and modelling from that project as required.

This analysis is to form the basis of a compelling report making the case for greater biomethane production and injection into the GB gas networks. This report to include recommendations for the target audience which includes Government Treasury DESNZ DEFRA Local authorities etc.

This is a project being delivered in collaboration with the Green Gas Taskforce.