Members
The Voice of the Networks
Tamsin Kashap
GIGG Chair
GAS INNOVATION NEWSLETTER
Gas Transmission Innovation Manager
National Grid Gas Transmission
T: +44 (0) 1926 655353
M: +44 (0) 7824 300690
E: [email protected]
SPRING 2017
Great Network Collaboration
A key objective of the GIGG is to facilitate collaboration and build relationships between the
innovation teams at the gas network companies. Collaboration projects can involve any
number of licensed network operators working with an external supplier or non-network
partner. Over the past 12 months the GIGG group has facilitated 14 new collaboration
projects, two of which have all five network companies working together.
An exciting step forward for 2017 has been cross sector collaboration where both Wales &
West Utilities and Northern Gas Networks are working with Electricity Distribution Network
operators. Working with WPD, WWU are looking at hybrid heating systems for optimising
energy demand on project FREEDOM (NIA WPD023). Working with NPD, Northumbrian
Water, and Yorkshire Water, NGN are sharing best practice for maximising the positive
impact utility companies have on wider society (NIA NPG013 Measuring the Societal Impact
of Network Activities).
One to watch over the coming 12 months will be a project on composite repairs for high
pressure pipe. This is a collaboration piece between the five gas networks and DNV GL. If
proven successful, the technique will enable operators to use composite wraps for pipe
repair at lower cost and reduce disruption compared to conventional steel shells.
Lucy Mason
Innovation Manager
Wales & West Utilities
T: +44 (0) 2920278958
M: +44 (0) 7964973229
E: [email protected]
David McLeod
Innovation Delivery Manager
SGN
T: +44 (0)131 469 1962
M: +44 (0)7837 519 009
E: [email protected]
The Importance of Implementation
As we approach the mid-point of the RIIO Price Control, a number of key
innovation projects are reaching the end of their innovation life cycle
and implementation into business as usual processes is becoming more
important. As a difficult as this can be within organisations, this is even
more challenging where network operators are looking to implement
successful output from other network projects. To improve transferrable
learning and disseminate successful project outcomes, the GIGG group
have created an “implementation log”. This is shared and discussed at
the GIGG meetings allowing representatives to pick up and prioritise
implementation activities. Successful sharing to date includes the
Handheld Laser Scanner between SGN and NGGT, and the Ductile Iron
Window Cutter which was a Wales & West project, subsequently
adopted by NGN within their network. NGGD are also working with NGN
to take up output from the NGN Back Blade ProtectorAdam
project
which
Madgett
Innovation Portfolio
successfully completed in March 2017. Another successful
example of
Manager
Gas having
implementation has been the Fence feet ImprovementNorthern
project,
Networks
M: +44out.
(0)7989
been used extensively by NGGD, SGN has now rolled this
NGGT have
212939
recently released an Innovation Value Mid-Term Report; assessing and
assuring the value already delivered and committed through 10 case
studies.
Martin Lord
Operations Portfolio Manager
NGGD
T: +44 (0)7970 719941
E: [email protected]
Fence
Feet
Adam Madgett
Handheld Laser
Scanner
Innovation Portfolio Manager
Northern Gas Networks
M: +44 (0)7989 212939
E: [email protected]
Andy Lewis
Portfolio Manager
NGGD
M: +44 (0) 7970 831058
E:[email protected]
The Voice of the Networks
Coming up…
Network Innovation Competition (NIC)
Update on NIC 2016: In November 16 National Grid Gas Distribution was successful in
receiving funding of £11.6M from Ofgem’s annual Network Innovation Competition (NIC) for
two pioneering projects; HyDeploy and Future Billing Methodology (FBM).
HyDeploy, which is being partnered by NGN and the wider HyDeploy consortium, seeks to
demonstrate that a hydrogen blend can be transported, distributed and utilised safely on a
representative part of the UK distribution network. The project is being hosted by Keele
University in Staffordshire.
The FBM Project explores the options for a fair and equitable billing methodology which will be
fit for purpose in a low carbon future. This project will look to develop a ‘Proof of Concept’ and
is partnered by DNV GL.
NIC 2017: The competition kicked off in April 2017. There have been three projects submitted
at the ISP stage:
SGN
Robotic Roadworks & Excavation System (RRES)
NGN, SGN, WWU, NGGD
H21
WWU
New Nwy
There is an additional submission from Fulcrum PIpelines, Tain Innovative Gas Grid.

Events
MAY 2017
UTILITY WEEK LIVE
NGGD will be
exhibiting at Utility
Week Live on the
23rd and 24th of May
- please come along
and view our stand
and new name!
JUNE 2017
IGEM INDUSTRIAL
AFFILIATES EVENT
Innovation
opportunities in the
gas industry - 1st
June 2017, IGEM
House, Kegworth
DECEMBER 2017
LOW CARBON
NETWORKS AND
INNOVATION (LCNI)
CONFERENCE
Project CLoCC (Customer Low Cost Connections)
Stakeholder Day
On February 22nd, Project CLoCC held a customer stakeholder
conference at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.
Potential customers and stakeholders had the opportunity to
discuss specific work-streams within the project to gain a better
understanding of the work we are doing and how, together, we can
reshape the current connections process. From these discussions,
we were able to gain invaluable feedback and ask questions to help
us understand exactly what our stakeholder’s need from us.
Explore the key
learning from
electricity and gas
network innovation
projects – 5th to 7th
December 2017,
Telford.
New Projects Registered
National Grid Gas Distribution
Wales & West
Utilities
National Grid Gas
Transmission
Northern Gas
Networks
GPS Enabled Video in RouteWalk Surveys
Artificial Intelligence
for Pipe Coating
Inspection
H21 - Strategic
Modelling Major Urban
Centres
Cognitive Technology
for Technical
Standards
H21 – Alternative
Hydrogen Production
and Network storage
possibilities
Mechanical Purge End Fitting
Migration Corrosion Inhibitors
Assessment of Bioenergy Resource Potential
for UK Biomethane
A new technical specification for future gas
composition analysis equipment
Safe Digging Phased Array Feasibility Study
MEG Saturation Monitoring
SGN
Ironclad
Alternative PE joint
preparation
Flexible biomethane
production using carboxylic
acids
Higher chain alkane gases
from Anaerobic Digestion
Remote circumferential pipe cleaning tool
Acoustic Resonance
Technology (ART)
Project EVA – Extreme
Value Analysis
Flexible Energy Model
Composite Repairs to Complex Shapes
Leakage Sealant Standards
Combined CP and P
remote monitor
H21 – Domestic and
Commercial Metering
Strategic Pipeline Heat
Study
Forged Carbon Fiber
Products (FCFP)
IGEM Gas Quality
Standard Working
Group
100% Hydrogen
MRPS Digital Map –
based data capture and
mobile GIS.
Remote Site
Monitoring