Net zero and the energy system transition
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.
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.
Repurposing gas pipelines for SAF
This project evaluates the rapidly developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) sector and assesses the technical commercial regulatory and safety feasibility of repurposing existing gas pipelines to transport liquid aviation fuels. The uptake of SAF is critical to decarbonising the UK aviation industry and achieving net zero targets. To support the scale-up of SAF production and use the development of reliable affordable and low-carbon infrastructure is essential. Pipelines offer a cost-effective environmentally sustainable and high-capacity transport solution. The study aims to enable scalable SAF infrastructure while providing a productive long-term use for gas assets that are unlikely to be required for refurbishment or alternative repurposing.
Accuracy of electronic volume conversion systems when metering blends of hydrogen and natural gas
This project focuses on ensuring accurate volume conversion within gas metering processes as hydrogen is blended into the natural gas network across Great Britain. Accurate measurement is essential for fair billing and maintaining customer trust during the energy transition. The project will study real world metering installations assess potential errors caused by hydrogen blending and develop practical mitigation strategies. Findings will inform updates to industry guidance (IGEM/GM/5) supporting regulatory compliance and operational integrity.
Calorific Gas Sensor
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
Hydrogen Fracture Surfaces Assessment
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.
AI-Driven Policy Transformation for Hydrogen Blending in Gas Distribution Networks
Development of an AI tool to implement an AI-Driven Policy Transformation for Hydrogen Blending in Gas Distribution Networks
RTN modelling- Bio Methane
The UK 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 design modelling. Cadent’s current modelling relies on outdated assumptions and lacks the granular real-time demand insight needed for modern decarbonising gas networks. Existing tools cannot capture intra-day demand variability below-7-bar network complexity or the growing impact of biomethane injections—creating risks in planning operational decisions and reinforcement strategy.
RTN addresses these challenges by delivering accurate weather-adjusted consumer-level demand modelling and integrated analysis across pressure tiers. This enhances forecasting improves biomethane integration and strengthens model validation and operational control. In the future state RTN provides Cadent with a modern data-rich and automated modelling capability that reduces unnecessary reinforcement improves customer outcomes supports the energy transition and lays the foundation for potential future use in peak-demand modelling and regulatory engagement.
This programme is leveraging the data and learning from historic projects to develop a range of novel network modelling tools that will enable biogas designs to be informed consumer focused and optimised for localised conditions and demands.
Determining Future Energy Demand of B&R Team Vans with Full On-Board Power
Wales & West Utilities is undertaking a major programme of change to support decarbonisation and deliver a Net Zero gas network. Decarbonisation of the vehicle fleet is an integral component of that programme.
WWU operates a fleet of nearly 1400 commercial vehicles the majority of these being vans up to 3.5 tonnes GVW. Our fleet – mostly diesel-fuelled - plays a crucial role in providing a safe and efficient service. In addition to our vehicle fleet WWU operates ~ 900 items of mobile plant including mini diggers and a wide range of trailers many of which are specialised.
WWU vans carry a wide range of power-operated tools and equipment some of this currently being powered by hydrocarbon fuels some by electricity and some by compressed air. Approximately a third of our van fleet (~400 units) is equipped with ‘full on-board power’ – a compressor and generator mounted under the van floor and mechanically driven by the diesel engine and operating as a source of on-site power.
This group of vehicles primarily supports below-ground network repair and replacement activity: it is a significant energy consumer so to help us understand how we can make an operationally cost-effective transition to zero emissions it is the on-site energy requirements of the tools and equipment powered by this group that Cenex will evaluate for this project. This evaluation will provide information which can take account of (and feed in to) a range of different scenarios for the fleet in the future such as changes to the number and type of vans allocated to particular teams and projects.
Commercial Vehicle Fleet – Development of Total Cost of Operation Model
Decarbonisation of UK transport and the related Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate requires companies to transition their commercial vehicle fleets to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) or alternative new emerging technologies (e.g. FCEC). As an operational utility network with responsibility for public safety WWU’s fleet undergoes a more challenging and varied range of duty cycles than most commercial fleets includes vehicles that are required to provide on-site power and must be capable of meeting WWU’s statutory duty to respond quickly to Public Reported Escapes.
Within this challenging operational context WWU must deliver a fleet transition at the lowest feasible cost to assure value for money for our customers. This is further complicated by the need to plan the fleet transition while the associated technological and policy landscape continues to evolve in parallel. Although the learnings generated from the project will be specific to WWU’s fleet as a case study they will be applicable to any networks with an operational fleet.
To assure a cost-effective transition and derisk future operations WWU require a Total Cost of Operation (TCO) model. This will be specifically targeted at our particular operational context capable of assessing the costs and capabilities of a range of ZEV options and crucially must be easy for staff to adopt for internal use and update in the future as new data and/or technologies become available.
The purpose of this project is to provide WWU with a TCO model that addresses our specific operational requirements ensuring that plans and investment decisions will be grounded in real-world technology assessments and our operational fleet data.
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.
Future Hydrogen Safe Control of Operations (SCO) Procedures
Following the work completed on the policies and procedures project by QEMS WWU have identified the requirement to update and re-vamp the existing Safe control of operations (SCO) procedures used by the network to support delivery of upcoming projects.
Application of Functional Blending - Testing a Market-led Approach
Wales & West Utilities has developed a Regional Decarbonisation Pathway to provide an overarching strategic plan for the network in Wales and the South West of England. To deliver that pathway more detailed assessment and planning is required to facilitate the progression of opportunities in particular areas.
In 2023 WWU supported Cadent as the lead partner in the development and delivery of a Functional Blending Specification (FBS) which has progressed the technical understanding of how blending equipment can be practically applied within the context of existing gas network assets (
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.
Low Carbon Conversion of Non Domestic Properties Utilising Distributed Natural Gas
This project investigates the technical and economic feasibility of converting non-domestic buildings from natural gas to low carbon energy sources specifically hydrogen and electricity. It aims to address the significant evidence gap around the conversion of commercial and institutional buildings that are currently supplied by the GB gas distribution networks. The study will assess a wide range of building archetypes including care homes schools hospitality venues and light industrial sites using a combination of literature review site surveys detailed system designs and technoeconomic modelling. The outputs will inform future energy policy support infrastructure planning and help ensure safe and cost-effective deployment of low carbon technologies in non-domestic settings.