Opening up the Gas Market

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Energy Economics)

Applied Research and Development

SOCIAL SCIENCES (Economics and Econometrics)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
SGN

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 January 2014

01 January 2016

ENA months

£2,122,000

Energy

South East

Project Contact, SGN

The objective of this Project is to demonstrate that gas which meets the European Association for the Streamlining of Energy Exchange-gas (EASEE Gas) specification but sits outside of the characteristics of gas specified within GB Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (GS(M)R) 1996 can be distributed and utilised safely and efficiently in GB. For this demonstration, we have a unique opportunity to utilise one of our discrete, isolated networks which we operate in remote parts of Scotland, called the Scottish Independent Undertakings (SIUs).

Great Britain (GB) is now a net importer of gas, with prices and access to supply increasingly depending on international markets. Hence, GB gas prices exhibit volatility, given the short-term and/or spot market conditions. Whilst the sources of new natural gas are numerous, gases have different compositions and GBs specification for gas composition is very prescriptive, therefore limiting the gas market and exacerbating the problem. Current arrangements dictate that in order for gases with compositions that sit outside of GBs specification to be conveyed and used within GB, expensive gas processing is required to bring them within these specifications. This limits the type and source of gases which can be used in GB and, in turn, ultimately leads to increased costs for the consumer.

02/11/22