Projects
IGEM TD1 / TD13 Hydrogen Supplements Review
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.
Hazardous Areas Impact Mitigation (HAIM) Phase 3
NIA_NGN_346 demonstrated that in a 100% hydrogen conversion scenario hazardous areas of some above ground installations (AGIs) on the network would extend far beyond their current site boundaries. The Hazardous Area Impact Mitigation (HAIM) work programme was set up to investigate these findings and develop potential mitigations. Results highlighted discrepancies between the calculated values from the IGEM/SR/25 hydrogen supplement and empirical test measurements as well as revealed the compound impact of rounding on calculated hazardous zones.
HAIM 3 will propose two methods to reduce the specified zones from AGIs based on the evidence to date:
- Refine the IGEM/SR/25 supplement based on evidence from the HAIM results.
- Use the knowledge gained during the HAIM works to adapt AGI vents and sites to reduce plume sizes and hence exclusion zones. This is independent of any changes to IGEM/SR/25 and can be applied in parallel.
Both methods independently act to reduce the specified zones surrounding vent pipes in AGIs.
Additional evidence gaps around hydrogen/Natural Gas blends up to 20% will be examined by replicating the phase 2 workshop tests for blends. During the project additional opportunities will be sought to collaborate and share knowledge with any third-party studies of large-scale gas releases.
SHINE Non-Electric Boiler
Power outages are a regular occurrence in Great Britian with average annual customer minutes lost in Great Britain range between 31.57 minutes 51.4 minutes depending on the Distribution Network Operator License Area (Statista 2021). This is of course not evenly distributed with outages varying from a few minutes up to more than a week in more extreme circumstances. Similarly single outages can affect a single property or several thousand properties depending on the cause.
This project will aim to develop a low-cost user-friendly solution whereby customers in vulnerable situations will still be able to use their gas heated boiler as well as LPG and oil heated boilers in the event of a power outage.
Wireless Methane Odorant Detector
This project aims to improve natural gas leak detection for over 3.5 million people with acute smell disorders e.g. anosmia. Traditional methane sensors require high power limiting placement. The legally required odorant (80% tert-butyl mercaptan and 20% dimethyl sulphide) will continue as the UK transitions to hydrogen or blends necessitating re-calibration of detectors.
Our solution is an odorant-based gas detector using a custom ultra-low power electrochemical sensor to measure TBM. These sensors operate for over 10 years on a sealed lithium-ion battery detecting TBM from 20-30ppb (below our smell threshold) up to 1500ppb (20% of the Lower Explosion Level) ensuring early warning of gas leaks.
With no natural sources of TBM false positives are eliminated. The Sensor is ‘hydrogen ready’ maintaining consistent odorant levels during the transition to hydrogen or blends accurately notifying of gas leakage without reconfiguration.
Fairer Warmth Hub
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 schools social healthcare 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.
Knapton H2 Storage for H2P Discovery
Knapton Hydrogen Storage for Hydrogen to Power Discovery phase will investigate options for medium and large-scale storage of hydrogen to enable Centrica’s H2P project at Knapton via energy asset re-purposing the flexible use of hydrogen in the region for industrial decarbonisation and infrastructure scale up opportunities to provide resilience for the proposed East Coast Hydrogen core H2 network in North Yorkshire.
Future Operability of Gas for System Integration (FOGSI) Alpha
The project will develop an integrated hierarchical network modelling framework for simulating the operation of future GB energy system scenarios with highly interconnected gas and power networks. The realistic modelling of power-to-gas and storage operators’ behaviour will be emphasised. The integrated models will be demonstrated on a simulation platform as real-time digital twins for future system scenarios.
Considerable novelty will lie in the combination of modelling scale and granularity; representation of many autonomous decentralised agents making sub-optimal decisions; and the optimal resolution of dilemmas arising from the finite energy budgets constraining primarily weather-driven low to zero carbon scenarios.
Non-data centres large demand mapping
New high energy demand sites in the UK can face grid connection delays of over 10 years due to overloaded electricity networks which are struggling to keep up with growing demand. Gas networks could help bridge this gap by supplying gas-to-power solutions to support critical areas sooner. Knowing where and when demand will arise will help gas networks target investment support electricity networks in offering alternatives and allow energy users faster access to power. In this way gas networks can play a key role in getting large energy users the power they need when they need it.
Flexible Gas Transition Plant – Phase 1 Feasibility Study
Analysis of the distribution networks undertaken in the H2 Caledonia and H2 Connect projects has identified sectorisation isolation as the optimal approach for conversion. Sectorisation isolation allows for a sector-by-sector approach ensuring the gradual conversion of existing Natural Gas connections over to hydrogen or managing the disconnection process should customers opt for alternative heating solutions. This project will aim to develop an understanding of the technical and financial feasibility of a Flexible Gas Transition Plant (FGTP) through primary project outputs such as: outline of design options development of a list of transition use cases a cost benefit analysis (CBA) for each transition scenario and a roadmap for future phases including prototype design and trials.
Forecaster for Embedded Generation (FEmGE)
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.
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.
Energy Explorers
We The Curious is an educational charity and science centre with a vision for a future where everyone is included curious and inspired by science to build a better world. For 25 years We The Curious have welcomed over 300000 visitors annually and have engaged more than 65000 school children through hands-on science experiences every year.
We The Curious is celebrating its 25th birthday by developing a new sustainability themed area of its science centre. This project with WWU aims to inspire thousands of people of all ages to explore how different energy sources work in different contexts – sparking curiosity building confidence and empowering communities to take part in a fair low-carbon transition.
The exhibit will help visitors of all ages discover the different renewable sources of energy understand how they work and explore why a balanced mix of energy solutions is essential to transition away from fossil fuels. Designed as a social and collaborative experience with multiple interaction points the exhibit will highlight that shaping a sustainable energy future requires teamwork – across technologies communities and generations.
Understanding Consumer Behaviours for a Just Energy Transition
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).
Hydrogen Environment Testing of Girth Welds Phase 2 - Constant Load Testing
Previous testing carried out under NIA has outstanding gaps that require further testing to close. Completing the additional testing will confirm actual fracture toughness values to be used and the corresponding J value from the crack growth resistance curve. The project outputs are required and will be used to progress design specification and procurement processes for hydrogen major projects. The results can also be applied for repurposing assessments.
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.
Air Ingress in Multi Occupancy Buildings (MOBs)
This project will help to inform UK Gas Distribution Network Operators (GDNOs) and wider industry on the impact of the potential for air ingress into gas-conveying pipework in MOBs. The mechanisms for air ingress into gas-conveying pipework have been shown to be gas agnostic though this project will focus on impacts specific to future hydrogen distribution to MOBs.
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.
Finding the Hidden Vulnerable Stage 2
Following on from Stage 1 of the project which assessed if a predictive model could be used to find hidden vulnerability the next stage of the project is focused on identifying customers in vulnerable situations whose heat comes from Cadent delivered gas that are missing out on the protections that the Priority Service Register (PSR) brings because they are “hidden” behind a non-domestic supply contract and may not be immediately visible through existing data sets and ways of working. The project aims to proactively identify and support hidden customers in vulnerable situations within Cadent’s network by developing a data-driven model that integrates existing datasets from different sources ensuring that they receive the support that they need in the event of an interruption to supply.
MASiP Phase 3 (Qualification Testing & Integrated System Development)
The MASiP Phase 3 is developing a new pipeline system to serve as an alternative to conventional steel pipelines in the transmission network. The material used in this pipeline will render it capable of transporting natural gas biogas and up to 100% hydrogen. Building on Phases 1 and 2 this phase focuses on the technical assessment of tight radius bends tees and damage repair as well as the integration of live monitoring systems in a prototype operational environment.
Comprehensive validation will include connectors coatings repair systems hot-tapping solutions ground movement tolerance durability and design life testing. All testing will be carried out in accordance with IGEM API and ASME standards.
The key deliverable is a validated deployable hydrogen-ready pipeline system that is safe compliant and cost-effective offering potential cost savings of up to 50% compared with steel. The project outcomes will support the UK’s RIIO-GD2 strategy and 2050 net-zero targets by enabling hydrogen-ready infrastructure improving monitoring installation efficiency and long-term reliability while also providing the evidence base required for regulatory policy and industry acceptance of alternative pipeline materials.
Catalysing Biomethane Growth in the UK
This project constitutes a UK-wide strategic assessment of the policy and regulatory frameworks governing biomethane production and grid injection with the objective of identifying how these frameworks can be updated to unlock growth. The review will examine the current policy landscape support mechanisms and regulatory arrangements affecting biomethane development including uncertainties associated with existing schemes and fragmented governance structures.