Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_NGN_280 | |
| Title | Safety & Operational Framework for the Temporary Provision of Alternative Natural Gas Systems 2 (SOFTPANG 2) | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 75%; Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts) 25%; |
|
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 60%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Policy and regulation) 20%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 20%; |
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| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given Northern Gas Networks |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 September 2020 | |
| End Date | 01 April 2021 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £71,475 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Energy | |
| Region | Yorkshire & Humberside | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (100.000%) |
| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (0.000%) |
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| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_NGN_280 |
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| Objectives | In 2018, in partnership with Northern Gas Networks (NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS) and the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC), MMI Engineering (now trading as Thornton Tomasetti) collaboratively delivered the Safety and Operational Framework for the Temporary Provision of Alternative Natural Gas Systems (SOFTPANG) to minimise and/or avoid gas supply interruptions. The project was delivered in three specific phases: Stage 1: Review of the legal, commercial, licensing and regulatory requirements related to the temporary interim use of portable natural gas storage Stage 2: Identify the range of viable alternate technologies and understand and identify the safety and regulatory risks associated with each of these technology options. Stage 3: Develop and produce a framework document defining a suite of requirements / standards, systems and processes, capable of enabling NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS to use new and existing temporary gas supply technologies within its network. The outcome of the study was an industry approved safety management framework for the provision and use of temporary gas supply systems during interruptions. The guidance included sections on technical quality assurance of any equipment installed or temporarily provided as a part of the temporary supply solution, as well as competence assurance and training of personnel implementing and operating the solutions. The framework also included a decision-making process to aid the GDNs select the best / acceptable option.The regulatory review, based on the previous Gemserv report, found no main showstoppers to the provision of temporary gas, though derogations from OFGEM would be required in some circumstances. A number of temporary supply technologies were identified, including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), Biomethane, and Propane/Air supply. The safety, training, installation, regulatory and technology readiness of the various solutions were investigated and outlined in the report.The project recommended that the next phase of the project would be to select specific technology options and undertake field trials. This phase of the project (SOFTPANG Phase 2) is associated with the progression of the recommendations from the Phase 1 report is to investigate further within Northern Gas Networks to consider the requirements from across the business which will enable a down selection of the technology to be used in a future phase. This phase of the project will select a suitable technology and provide a technical note which will enable Northern Gas Networks to progress to field trials and deployment, which will fall under a follow on project. The following can be classified as being within scope for this specific commission: Down select specific technology options, considering regulatory and safety changes which may have occurred since the production of the original report through multiple interviews, requirement confirmations from multiple departments within Northern Gas Networks, trial specifications and a final technical note. The work will be undertaken in one short stage and the project will focus on the following objectives: Down selection to preferred technology/technologies Detailed technical note on the requirements to be met to allow field trials of the preferred technology. | |
| Abstract | Following on from original findings in the first SOFTPANG project (which identified the feasibility of a temporary gas solution; its legal and regulatory restriction, potential advantageous technologies and training requirements to equip this solution) and the current COVID-19 Pandemic, there is an opportunity to use the findings and help mitigate the risk to customers and operational workforce where properties that are identified as high risk as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and cannot be accessed by network engineers as part of planned operations. | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 02/11/22 | |
