Distribution Network Information Modelling (DNIM)

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)

Applied Research and Development

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
SGN

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 April 2023

01 June 2023

2 months

£15,234

Energy

South East

Project Contact, SGN

"Meeting the SIF challenge: This project meets all 4 of the aims of improving energy system resilience and robustness category by:By accurately mapping our network, DNIM will enable future challenges and risks to be identified in a quick and cost effective manner. This will help create a more resilient network that can adapt to the energy transition.Technology developed under the DNIM platform includes Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning as well as robotic automation hardware. These technologies offer significant opportunities to facilitate hydrogen and heat energy system configurations for example.Improving our operational activities as we transition to net-zero whilst reducing impact to customers. With DNIM surveying the network autonomously without excavations, the system offers the gas networks a chance to improve resilience and robustness for a future green gas scenario in a sustainable and relatively clean manner.Overall strengthens our operation activities by having a better understanding of our assets and their precise locations. With this knowledge and the data collected, condition of the energy system and how those changes with future energy system configurations will be able to be analysed and evaluated.SGN: SGN is one of the largest utility companies, distributing natural and green gas safely and reliably through our 74,000km of pipes to 5.9 million homes and businesses across Scotland and southern England. We are committed to exceeding the expectations of our stakeholders by delivering value for money and exceptional customer service as well as providing a safe, secure and sustainable future for our network.SGN are the lead participant in this project and will provide clear direction and insight to the project partners. SGN will also provide insight and expertise from a gas distribution network perspective for the project, ensuring alignment to the challenge area and realisation of benefits to be captured.ULC Technologies: ULC Technologies has over 20 years of experience developing robotic solutions and deploying them as services using their field teams. ULCs team includes engineers (mechanical, electrical, software, robotics), research scientists, and technicians. This enables ULC to tackle highly complex and multi-functional problems with innovative solutions. These solutions may then be driven deployed in-house using ULCs extensive field teams which has had success deploying robots in the UK and the US for over two decades."

18/10/23