Nuclear Net Zero Opportunities (N-NZO)

Completed

Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies)
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen production)
Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Enhanced oil and gas production)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
National Grid Gas Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 March 2022

01 May 2022

2 months

£107,494

Energy

London

Project Contact, National Grid Gas Transmission

Project Contact, National Grid Electricity Transmission
Project Contact, National Grid plc
Project Contact, Northern Gas Networks

Scope: This proposed Discovery Phase Project will focus on how future deployments of Advanced Nuclear Technologies (ANTs) for hydrogen and electricity generation can best be integrated into Gas and ET Systems, providing a constant supply of low-carbon hydrogen for consumers. It will consider approaches for accomplishing this based on cost-effectiveness, security of energy supply and assisting the achievement of Net Zero targets.Themes: The project touches on several Whole System Integration themes, but particularly:Coordinating energy transmission, distribution and system operation across gas and electricity: Nuclear power has been an essential contributor to the UK energy mix. As existing nuclear capacity is retired, there is the opportunity to design and deploy emerging technologies to support cogeneration, improving the resilience of both the energy grid.Future policy and regulatory conditions as well as market designs to support whole system approaches: Outputs from the project will directly support future policy decision and shape regulatory frameworks. These can help with the deployment and integration of ANTs to support the whole energy system.Whole Systems Innovation: This project will support rapid decarbonisation for both consumers and UK businesses, notably in heavy industry, residential and transportation. This study will assess the potential location of future nuclear by balancing a series of logistical factors such as cost to the consumer, hydrogen throughput, regulatory hurdles, reliability, and availability of hydrogen transport.Project Partners: Because this project focuses on the interface between nuclear, gas and electricity, it requires a whole-system approach, and a set of partners to reflect that. Our consortium consists of gas and ET and distribution network operators, the electricity system operator (ESO) and two energy generators. Several other energy network licensees (the energy system operator and the GD networks), have also expressed a keen interest in outputs from the project, with a desire to become involved in later projects.Energy Networks: Energy network licensees include National Grid GT Network (NGGT) as leading project partner, with National Grid GT Network (NGET), National Grid ESO and Northern Gas Networks (NGN).Generators: Rolls-Royce and URENCO.Industry Experts: Frazer-Nash Consultancy is a leading systems and engineering consultancy with extensive energy system expertise, and broad network of relevant supporting stakeholders. Frazer-Nash has been identified to undertake the Discovery Phase implementation, as a technology agnostic collaborator performing independent assessments of the proposed whole system approach and the potential benefits for consumers.VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaQ1XhkwBpg&list=PLrMOhOrmeR6ktSag0RbT7zPNVn0p1P2f6&index=28

14/10/22