Projects

The LTS Futures project aims to understand how the local transmission system (LTS) could be repurposed from Natural Gas to hydrogen. The project encompasses several elements which will feed into a blueprint methodology for repurposing the LTS to hydrogen. During one of the work elements LTS Futures conducted full-scale testing of pipeline defects and small-bore connections exposed to hydrogen. Testing was conducted until failure to provide information for hydrogen pipeline design standards and operational procedures. This project will undertake further detailed analysis of the fracture surfaces to provide a visual confirmation of hydrogen diffusion into the pipeline microstructure and if this contributed to failure.

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 PE Service Pipe disconnection development project aims to produce a product and technique which can safely successfully and efficiently disconnect PE Service Pipes from an external Emergency Control Valve (ECV) following meter removal. This solution aims to prevent the inconvenience risks and additional costs associated with traditional excavation methods.

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.

Repurposing of natural gas pipelines made of carbon steel for use with hydrogen blends requires a fitness-for-service analysis as part of the hydrogen use safety case. Girth welds of an unknown quality exist in the Local Transmission System (LTS). In hydrogen service these welds would have a greater susceptibility to fracture failure due to material embrittlement caused by interaction of steel material with hydrogen.

Current in-line inspection methods do not routinely inspect girth welds for defects. This project aims to test the available technology for its capability to detect defects and cracks in girth welds. This will provide valuable data for engineering critical assessments required to repurpose natural gas pipelines. It will also inform about the state of art inspection techniques and whether they can be used as a tool for repurposing pipelines.

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.

The Sustainable Vehicle Transport project assessed the feasibility of using biomethane-derived compressed natural gas (bio-CNG) as a lower-carbon transport fuel for operational vehicle fleets while also considering the future potential for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. The project examined viable locations for a pilot refuelling facility reviewed available refuelling technologies and delivery models assessed vehicle suitability evaluated economic performance and developed a roadmap for potential future deployment.

The study concluded that a bio-CNG trial is technically feasible and can provide substantial greenhouse gas emissions reductions particularly in vehicle segments where electrification remains challenging due to range payload or onboard power requirements. The work also demonstrated that mature refuelling technologies and commercial delivery models already exist in the market reducing technical implementation risk.

A key finding was that project viability is influenced less by technology readiness and more by practical considerations such as fuel demand utilisation rates planning requirements land availability and utility connections. The project therefore provided a structured evidence base to inform future investment decisions and potential progression to site-specific feasibility assessments and detailed business case development.

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.

The project focuses on exploring practical and innovative pathways for CO₂ utilisation with the goal of supporting scalable and cost-effective carbon management solutions. It examines a range of technologies market mechanisms and regional integration opportunities to better understand how captured CO₂ can be effectively reused. A key emphasis is placed on evaluating the economic feasibility of utilisation particularly through methanation including the potential commercial value of CO₂ and e-methane. The study combines technical and economic analysis with a case study of a methanation plant while also assessing local CO₂ markets and potential sales opportunities. The project also addresses key risks such as technology uncertainty hydrogen pricing and market volatility. Overall it aims to de-risk investment and stimulate the development of the CO₂ utilisation market from the AD sector.

This study assesses the available pathways to recover and monetise the biogenic CO₂ stream produced during biogas upgrading at UK anaerobic digestion (AD) plants with a particular focus on using it to produce synthetic natural gas (SNG). The study begins with extensive stakeholder and technology vendor engagement to identify suitable CO₂ sources potential utilisation pathways market opportunities and technology options.

A central element of the study is the development of a detailed methanation case study based on the capture of approximately 500 Nm³/h of biogenic CO₂ and the conversion of this CO₂ into e-methane using low-carbon hydrogen. Feasibility-level engineering will be completed for both the carbon capture and methanation facilities including process modelling mass and energy balances block flow diagrams preliminary process flow diagrams equipment sizing site layouts and Class 5 capital cost estimates supported by vendor data. These engineering outputs will underpin a detailed economic assessment examining the impact of key variables such as hydrogen cost electricity prices CO₂ value carbon credits and certificate revenues on the levelized cost of e-methane production. The study also includes a local CO₂ market assessment a review of by-product utilisation opportunities such as reaction water and waste heat recovery and the development of a roadmap outlining the steps.

Early cluster projects will not benefit I&C customers that are located away from industrial clusters and are traditionally more distributed in nature. These customers are unlikely to have access to hydrogen infrastructure developed through the primary industrial clusters. This presents the need for an alternative solution.

This project will explore the concept of how a larger number of low-volume hydrogen producers can support I&C customers in the absence of natural ‘clustering’ and high-volume production by using the South West region of WWU’s network as a case study. This will be done by exploring the whole systems concept of a gas network which is driven by distributed green hydrogen production at strategic locations where there is access to both gas and electricity grid infrastructure.