Results:

This document is the final report for the project titled 'Acoustic Emission Measurements in Valve Leakage Detection and Quantification'.

National Grid has a large number of Cameron self-relieving ball valves of varying sizes in operation in the gas transportation system. A number of these are large diameter valves and a 42' Cameron self-relieving ball valve has recently been taken out of service as it was leaking. National Grid would like some leakage tests to be carded out on this valve.

National Grid uses a number of methods to detect and quantify leaks. One of these uses a portable acoustic emission (AE) device where a sensor is directly coupled to the surface of the valve. This device can be used on above-ground assets such as valves, etc. but a significant number of National Grid's assets are below the ground where access to the surface of the valve is not possible. National Grid has defined the overall objectives of this project, to be carded out by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) as follows:

1. Validate the use of leak detection equipment (based on a portable acoustic emission monitor system) for above-ground and below-ground process valves.

2. Investigate the valve's self-relieving system and quantify the leakage through the self-relieving system.

This report covers work done to complete test programme 1, with its objectives relating to Acoustic Emissions and Self-relieving Behaviour.

This document is a progress report for the project titled 'Advanced Gas Detection'.

The Project will be broken down into the following sub-sections:

GS700 Expansion -this will involve tasks such as; natural gas identification, bump testing, Bluetooth communication and trials/evaluation

Compliance management package (cloud IMS) -customised reports, guided decision making, trend analysis and security

Mobile application and development of associated software

Analysis of calibration options

Impact of the new technology on the site investigation procedures

Manage off site field trials and testing, quantifying and controlling risks identified

This report contains the following information:

1. Project Scope
2. Project Objectives
3. Success Criteria
4. Performance Compared to the Original Project Aims, Objectives and Success Criteria
5. Required Modifications to the Planned Approach During the Course of the Project
6. Lessons Learnt for Future Projects

This document is a final report for the project titled 'Aerosol Sealants Stage 1A'.

As part of the Stage 1 Seeker Particles work, Steer Energy recognised that a sealant delivered as an aerosol could provide an alternative approach to the existing technologies used to repair leaks. It is appreciated that this is most likely to be directed towards smaller leaks when compared to the robotically applied liquid sealants, and is likely to require some form of enabling technologies to be used to assist that deployment. This work dovetails with the work carried out in Seeker Particles Stage 2 and Gas Polymerisation Stage 1 as well as a number of other intervention projects that SGN are currently running through the NIC / NIA funding mechanism. Initially this project was to focus on direct technology transfer from the HVAC industry into the Gas industry to produce aerosolised sealants for use in the gas network. Exceptional contractual circumstances prevented this however and a development project was undertaken with a wider overall target.

The original aim of this project was to seal the leaks from the interior of the pipe by releasing aerosolised "sticky" solid particulate sealant materials into the natural-gas distribution system. This was essentially a 'technology transfer' project; taking a technology already applied successfully to the HVAC industry and - with the addition of time responsive sealants - test its applicability in the gas industry. It is understood that various techniques can be used to produce the aerosol and when properly optimised, these flocculent materials will travel innocuously through the pressurised flow-driven system, and lodge only on the edges of the leaks, and the scope of work was therefore developed to carry out the following:

Build on the understanding of aerosol transport and leak deposition in ducts.

Incorporate recent envelope-sealing research on sealant materials that do not remain permanently tacky.

Refine and utilise CFD modelling techniques to characterise sealant transport, deposition and drying processes.

This report is divided into the following sections:

1. Project Introduction, Changes, and Outcomes
2. Aerosol Sealing in the Gas Network
3. WP1: Application and Sealant Specification
4. WP2: Deployment Methodology
5. WP3: Design of Aerosol Numerical Model
6. WP4: Experimental Set up and Testing
7. WP5: Enabling Technologies
8. Conclusions and Further Work

This document is a closedown report for the project titled 'Alternative Jointing Techniques for Small Diameter PE Pipe'.

The primary objectives of this stage are to:

1. Conduct a gap analysis to compare the requirements of Standards that selected fittings conform to, with the requirements of established UK Gas Industry Standards.
2. Demonstrate, under laboratory conditions, the assembly of all mains-to-meter mechanical fittings from 4 different manufacturers and compare against a conventional electrofusion mains-to-meter assembly.
3. Undertake laboratory tests of selected fittings for both leak tightness and pull-out resistance.
4. Undertake a cost benefit analysis and undertake field observations.

This report covers the project's:

Scope

Objectives

Success Criteria

Performance Compared to the Original Project Aims, Objectives and Success Criteria

Required Modifications to the Planned Approach During its Course

Lessons Learnt for Future Projects

Outcomes

Planned Implementation

The scope of this project includes:

Review current information regarding the Pyplok system

Define functional requirements of alternative steel fittings for use on gas riser systems, such as Pyplok

Conduct approval testing of Pyplok

Field trial Pyplok

The aim of this project is to assess Pyplok technology to establish its suitability for the application of an alternative jointing method for steel risers, which removes the need for welding (which requires hot work permits) or screwed fittings which can only be used up to 2" diameter. The project will ascertain the testing which is required to ensure that the product is fit for purpose.

The project was split into 2 stages:

• Stage 1 involved the confirmation of the approvals route of the project, a draft test specification. A final report was produced from Stage 1, which outlines the test specification and has a plan for Stage 2 of the project when we are undertaking the gap closure testing. This Project Progress Report gives an overview of this Stage 1 report.
• Stage 2 determined costs, a final test specification and a gap closure action plan.

Following the initial Pyplok information review and determination of the expected functional requirements, DNV GL have determined a test specification for an alternative riser jointing method merging together existing Gas Industry Specifications and National Grid specifications, as well as using their engineering judgements and knowledge on building regulations and potential changes to the building regulations with respect to fire resistance. A comparison was then made between the test specification that DNV GL have prepared and the testing and approvals that Pyplok already has.

The gap between the tests required and the approvals already held is the testing to be undertaken in Stage 2 of the project, along with the preliminary work for live field trials in Stage 3.

It has become apparent during the project that early engagement with operational departments has ensured that field trials (and associated activities) can be planned and completed easily, leading to the project to run with minimal delays. There will need to be some further trials conducted following the project to move the method to the next TRL level and embed into the business. The Pyplok method, if successful, will be used in conjunction with traditional riser jointing techniques, especially as a replacement when appropriate to welding.

This report covers the project's:

Scope

Objectives

Success Criteria

Performance Compared to the Original Project Aims, Objectives and Success Criteria

Required Modifications to the Planned Approach During its Course

Lessons Learnt for Future Projects

This document is a closedown report for the project titled 'Alternatives to Venting '.

Planned venting can arise from a number of sources around the network, including venting at compressor sites and pipeline decommissioning for repair, replacement or modification. Planned venting at compressor sites is monitored and recorded through the on-line control system. For 2011/12, this was reported as 2984 tonnes of natural gas.

For pipeline decommissioning current best practice employed by the Pipeline Maintenance Centre (PMC) involves transfer of gas from the decommissioned section to an active section by means of a compressor but this is only feasible until the decommissioned section pressure reaches 7 bar. At this pressure the Portable Recompression Equipment operation cannot increase the pressure sufficiently to transfer the gas to the active section. So the final operation during decommissioning is to then vent the remaining gas. To improve the environmental performance of final stages of the decommissioning process several options are available including:

Collect the gas and use either on the decommissioned site or elsewhere with the network.

Flare the gas. Methane is recognised as having a significantly greater "Global Warming Potential" (GWP) than carbon dioxide, approximately twenty times. Thus flaring will reduce the environmental impact.

The programme of works looks to address some of these issues arising from the need for National Grid to vent either pipelines or compressor pipe sections as part of the normal operation either for maintenance requirements or as part of the normal control sequence. Its scope looks to cover the following areas:

Developed a venting decision/logging support tool.

Conduct trials to demonstrate mobile recompression equipment.

To develop and test the suitability of large scale adsorbed natural gas (ANG) technology to constructively reuse gas that would otherwise been vented to atmosphere.

This report covers the project's:

Scope

Objectives

Success Criteria

Performance Compared to the Original Project Aims, Objectives and Success Criteria

Required Modifications to the Planned Approach During its Course

Lessons Learnt for Future Projects

Outcomes

Planned Implementation

This document is a closedown report for the project titled 'Architectural Design of Compressor Site'.

National Grid has to operate in an ever more stringent planning environment. The implementation of the Planning Act 2008 has resulted in all Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects being captured by the Planning Act. The result of this has been a greater responsibility on a developer to provide evidence that a full and open engagement has been undertaken with both statutory and non statutory organisations and particularly the public at large and further that opinions expressed by third parties have been properly noted and where possible used to influence the final design submitted for consent to the Planning Inspectorate.

National Grid is committed to being the industry leader in the implementation of the requirements of the Planning Act. To this end, where National Grid is required to construct an above ground installation, it is imperative that they investigate fully all alternatives available to minimise the impact of the development on its environment and those who live in that environment. As part of the early stages of the public consultations on the Don Valley Power CCS project, preliminary compressor site design drawings and animations were created for three different design options:

1. Contemporary
2. Farmstead
3. Landscaped

The overwhelming preference from the public was for the landscape design (i.e. the environmental option).

This project will explore three environmentally sensitive architectural design alternatives that will be suitable for a typical compressor site, based on size (one small, two medium).

This report covers the project's:

Scope

Objectives

Success Criteria

Performance Compared to the Original Project Aims, Objectives and Success Criteria

Required Modifications to the Planned Approach During its Course

Lessons Learnt for Future Projects

Outcomes

Planned Implementation

Other Comments

This document is a closedown report for the project titled 'Assessment of hydrophobic treatment for gas compressor air intake values & screens'.

Under certain climatic conditions it is possible for unacceptable levels of ice to build up on gas turbine air intakes. Ice build up on the air intake structures reduces the available cooling and combustion air for the gas turbine, reducing efficiency and the integrity of the unit if the ice should become ingested within the engine. This would have serious consequences for the integrity of the gas turbine unit and network supply capability due to unit failure.

There is considerable worldwide experience of operation gas turbine based infrastructure in low ambient temperatures and a number of ice treatment technologies are well defined. Dovetailing the most cost effective available ice treatments with the existing air intake structures. This and also employing any fortuitous effects such as surface roughness, will improve the overall effectiveness of water repulsion and ice management of gas turbine air intakes across the National Grid fleet.

The project demonstrated that pre treating air intakes with hydrophobic solutions, PTFE coatings or filter oil only offered a marginal delay (compared to equivalent non treated components) before the on set of icing conditions. This combined with some of the potential health and safety issues associated when applying these solutions (working at height) means that that the evaluation confirmed that this project will not be progressed further at this stage.

This report covers the project's:

Scope

Objectives

Success Criteria

Performance Compared to the Original Project Aims, Objectives and Success Criteria

Required Modifications to the Planned Approach During its Course

Lessons Learnt for Future Projects

Outcomes

Planned Implementation

This document is a closedown report for the project titled 'Asset Health & Criticality Modeling'.

The purpose of the project is to provide a new methodology for delivering the requirements for Ofgem reporting. The collaborative working across the GDNs will provide a consistent benchmark for reporting a complex solution in a pragmatic way. The external service provider will be looking to determine pioneering research into deterioration models and probability of failure analysis using a nationwide data set. This will then be cross referenced with condition analysis based on current data and historical trends.

The objective of this project is to:

Develop a consistent reporting framework that is able to score NTS Offtakes, PRSs and District Governors on asset health, criticality, probability of failure and deterioration.

Provide a system that must be readily accessible and easily incorporated into the asset management working activities of all the GDNs.

Liaise with all GDNs throughout the process to establish key milestones, interrogate current asset repositories and relevant fault data.

This report covers the project's:

Scope

Objectives

Success Criteria

Performance Compared to the Original Project Aims, Objectives and Success Criteria

Required Modifications to the Planned Approach During its Course

Lessons Learnt for Future Projects

Outcomes

Planned Implementation

Other Comments

This document is the final report for the project titled 'Asset Health Modelling (Pipelines, Special Crossings & Block Valves)'.

Following submission of the Gas Distribution Network's (GDN's) business plans, Ofgem recognised the significant work carried out by the GDNs to report asset health, probability of failure and deterioration. However, it was recognised that the framework did not provide consistent results between the GDNs. Ofgem intended the framework to provide a consistent means of comparing information between GDNs and enable GDNs to compare information about the condition of assets over time. In addition, Ofgem sought evolution over time to combine information from different asset classes to form an overall view of the condition of GDN assets and risk therein.

This project looked to overcome the problem of reporting the health and criticality of one of the key group of assets - Local Transmission Pipeline assets; comprising the pipelines themselves plus all the associated assets such as block valves, special crossings and sleeves. The SRWG engaged with the industry experts in PIE due to the inherent knowledge that they held plus the level of interaction that they already had with the GDNs through the UKOPA (United Kingdom Onshore Pipeline Operators Association) group.

This report is contains an Executive Summary, and is split into two technical notes.

Technical Note PIE/14/TN113 :- Development of a Model for classifying the Health Index of non-piggable pipelines:

1. Summary
2. Background
3. Characteristics of external Corrosion
4. Application to Non-piggable Pipelines
5. Allocation of Health Index
6. Categorisation due to fatigue damage
7. Conclusions
8. References

• Appendix 1 - Procedures for 5-Yearly Inspection of Non-Piggable Pipelines
• Appendix 2 -Proposed Process for Defining "Intervention" to Extend Pipeline Life
• Appendix 3 - Calculation of Fatigue Damage due to Cyclic Pressure in Transmission Pipelines

Technical Note PIE/14/TN125 :- Models for Classifying the Health Indices of Block Valves, Sleeves and Above Ground Crossings:

1. Summary
2. Background
3. PoF Models for Block Valves, Sleeves and Crossings
4. PoF Model and Prediction of Health Index for Block Valves
5. Prediction of Health Index for Sleeves
6. PoF Model For Nitrogen Sleeves
7. Non-N2 Sleeves Health Index Predictions
8. Prediction for Health Index for Crossings
9. PoF Model for Above Ground Crossings
10. Prediction of Health index for Above ground crossings
11. PoF Model for River Crossings
12. River Crossings Health Index Predictions
13. Conclusions
14. References

• Appendix 1 - Proposed Definition of Intervention Process required to Reassign Block Valve Health Index
• Appendix 2 - Proposed Definition of Intervention Process required to Reassign Non-Nitrogen Sleeve Health Index
• Appendix 3 - Proposed Definition of Intervention Process required to Reassign Nitrogen Sleeve Health Index
• Appendix 4 - Proposed Definition of Intervention Process required to Reassign Above Ground Crossing Health Index
• Appendix 5 - Proposed Definition of Intervention Process required to Reassign River Crossing Health Index

This document is a closedown report for the project titled 'Asset Health Modelling'.

The scope of this project includes a gap analysis and development of proof of concept model, to be executed in the following steps:

CBRM Audit across two asset categories

Gap Analysis - RIIO GD1

Roadmap plan for 2013 submission

Commencement of CBRM excel model

Completion of CBRM excel model (District Governors) (Pressure Reduction Installations)

The objective of this project is to develop a Condition Based Risk Model (CBRM) that will determine the future health index of National Grid Gas Distribution's governors and pressure reduction assets in order to prioritise future investment decisions. The CBRM tool will allow the future Health Index (HI) and Probability of Failure (POF) of these assets to be simulated and assessed. This will enable understanding of asset condition and criticality, identifying and modelling different interventions to mitigate risk, and prioritise and select optimal expenditure via a condition based risk approach.

A CBRM model for a single asset group (District Governors) has been developed in order to provide National Grid the opportunity to understand the CBRM process. The District Governor CBRM model incorporates the factors that NGG consider to be relevant in terms of their impact on the health, criticality and risk of their District Governors, including asset age, expected service life, situation, location and duty and environment.

This report covers the project's:

Scope

Objectives

Success Criteria

Performance Compared to the Original Project Aims, Objectives and Success Criteria

Required Modifications to the Planned Approach During its Course

Lessons Learnt for Future Projects

Outcomes

Planned Implementation

Most compressor station Gas Turbine units have a number of battery powered emergency back up dc motors driving the vent fans, lube pumps etc. which are started in the event of a mains power failure. Currently these motors are started from resistor type starters located within each compressor unit's dc motor control centre.

At a number of compressor stations these resistor starters have overheated causing damage to the control equipment and constituting a fire risk.

It is proposed to replace these with a new dc electronic motor starter. DC electronic motor starters are not available as off the shelf products for a dc battery supply and will therefore require design and development. A prototype will be designed and tested and then a working unit will be installed at Wooler compressor station for a trial followed by the installation of the remaining 2 within the unit.

The objective of the project is to develop a safer and more reliable alternative to the resistance type motor starters currently installed on compressor sites.

A single DC electronic drive was manufactured as a prototype and tested on a load bank. Following successful completion of the test phase three units were manufactured and installed on an operational site. These are now fully installed and operational. The project is now closed

This report covers the project's:

Scope

Objectives

Success Criteria

Performance Compared to the Original Project Aims, Objectives and Success Criteria

Required Modifications to the Planned Approach During its Course

Lessons Learnt for Future Projects

Outcomes

Planned Implementation

Other Comments

This document is a closedown report for the project titled 'Beyond Visual Line of Sight Aerial Inspection Vehicle'.

The scope of this 1½ year programme of work by VTOL Technologies is to develop an RPAS BVLOS specification that is endorsed by the CAA which can then be used to develop a RPAS BVLOS system (not part of this project). The project contains four stages:

1. BVLOS Requirements Gathering (6 months)
2. Developing the Simulation Environment (4 months)
3. Assessing Requirements (4 months)
4. An Industry Standard BVLOS Specification (4 months)

Following the transition from the IFI to the NIA funding mechanism for the DNO's, an NIA allowance for the remainder of the project has now been included.

The objective of this project is to:

Identify what operational requirements the GDNs and DNOs might have for RPAS BVLOS.

Create a simulation environment based on real sections of the GDNs and DNOs networks.

Use the simulation environment to develop the specification(s) that will achieve the GDNs and DNOs operational requirements whilst also meeting the CAA's criteria.

Use the simulation environment to demonstrate the specification to the GDNs, DNOs and CAA.

Deliver a specification(s), confirmed by the CAA that is one step towards developing a RPAS BVLOS for which CAA approval can be secured.

The Project delivered an electricity networks RPAS BVLOS requirements specification and a gas networks RPAS BVLOS requirements specification. The increase in TRL from 3 to 5 has been in line with the registration document as the subsystems have been demonstrated in a relevant environment; the simulation environment. A significant outcome of the project has been the interaction and engagement of the CAA, a vital necessity for any further development work in the RPAS BVLOS arena.

This report covers the project's:

Scope

Objectives

Success Criteria

Performance Compared to the Original Project Aims, Objectives and Success Criteria

Required Modifications to the Planned Approach During its Course

Lessons Learnt for Future Projects

Outcomes

Planned Implementation

Other Comments

Networks want to facilitate and encourage new sources of gas to enter our networks that meet quality standards, and where necessary adapt quality standards to facilitate the new sources of supply and minimise investment on major infrastructure. At present, produces have no experience or best practice guide to help them through the installation and management of biogas connections. Networks have a variety of policies and procedures to undertake entry connections but these are limited to the transmission system. As a result of this project with NWL documented guides will be produced as each side goes through installation process. A specialist gas consultant will be employed over the duration of the project to capture all the learning and experiences from a producers and network perspective and document these stages including:

Initial Enquiry from Gas Producer/Developer

Gas Producer/Developer to place order for the design or design and build

Undertake construction phase for all work elements, including any NRO's for u/p connection and commissioning up to ECV upstream of ROV

Handover process to Gas Network

Other Considerations

The objectives of this project where:

1. To accelerate progression of the Howden project supporting with gas specific expertise
2. To liaise between NWL and NGN to ensure hurdles are overcome quickly and NGN's interests are maintained
3. To develop a user guide to bio-methane injection

To provide the Networks and suppliers/operators of waste treatment biomethane plants with the first user guide and best practice recommendations for connection to the gas distribution network with the requirements of that plant in relation to minimum/maximum connection, gas odourisation, dewpoint, gas quality measurement etc. To allow consistency across the gas industry for the benefit of suppliers/operators of biomethane installations and gas distribution network operators.

This report covers the project's:

Scope

Objectives

Success Criteria

Performance Compared to the Original Project Aims, Objectives and Success Criteria

Required Modifications to the Planned Approach During its Course

Lessons Learnt for Future Projects

Outcomes

Planned Implementation

Other Comments

As with the electricity network the gas network is well established. It offers national main land coverage, serving approximately 80% of homes in the UK. Homes not connected to the gas grid tend to be either in more remote locations, where it is less cost-effective to provide a connection to the gas grid, or certain types of homes in urban areas which have electric heating (e.g. many apartment buildings).

Changes to the way gas is used have the potential to profoundly affect the gas network, both in terms of where physical assets are needed and how they are operated.

With decarbonisation as the major driving factor the pressure is to reduce gas consumption, in particular in the domestic sector, the largest consuming sector. However, there could be short-term increases in gas consumption in other sectors and even the emergence of new gas consuming sectors.

There are numerous implications for the gas network with the potential requirement for decommissioning of major parts of the network, building new assets and radical changes to the way the network that emerges operates.

These changes bring a focus on the investment and policy decisions that will be needed to ensure that the most cost-effective choices are made in each location for what needs to be built, what needs to be decommissioned and how the continuing gas network integrates with the wider energy system.

This report summarises key themes emerging from the Energy Technologies Institute’s (ETI) project ‘Enabling efficient networks for low carbon futures’. The project aimed to explore the options for reforming the governance and regulatory arrangements to enable major changes to, and investment in, the UK’s energy network infrastructures. ETI commissioned four expert perspectives on the challenges and options facing the UK.

Summaries of the papers produced in carrying out this project are contained in the appendix to this paper and the full papers are published alongside this summary paper.

• Energy governance and regulation frameworks – time for a change ? Keith MacLean, February 2016
• Enabling efficient future energy networks – what governance and regulation will be needed in 2030 ?. Robert Hull, February 2016
• Enabling efficient networks for low carbon futures. Jorge Vasconcelos, February 2016
• Markets, Policy and Regulation in a Low Carbon Future. John Rhys, January 2016

This Briefing Paper focuses on the manufacturing and supply chain aspects of decarbonisation in the UK. Its recommendations contribute to an evolving discussion about the industrial and supply chain aspects of energy transition and implications for the UK.

Infographic showing the challenges of transforming UK Networks for low carbon. Includes ETI recommendations on the way forward.

The Infrastructure Cost Calculator is a network transition costing tool. It uses a robust, centrally stored database to enable the calculation and comparison of transition costs across the four main energy vectors: electricity, gas, heat and hydrogen. Users can defi ne and compare different scenarios to understand long term investments for a UK transition to a low carbon energy network.

The calculator uses data on the costs and performance associated with fi xed energy infrastructure.The user is able to defi ne and compare infrastructure options associated with a variety of energy generation and demand scenarios across different timescales.The calculator allows the user to compare capital and operating costs, identifying areas of high cost and providing analysis to understand the impact of a wide range of variables; including cost trends, location and start time. The cost ofnew infrastructure or refurbishing, re-purposing and abandoning existing network infrastructure across any scale or level of complexity can be carried out using a clean user friendly interface

Liam Lidstone presented “Multi-Vector Integration” during the session “Integrated and centralised planning for gas and electric networks” at Utility Week Live. This presentation covers

• The UK energy system
• Integrating networks to optimise across energy vectors
• Multi-Vector Integration project

During the life of a pipeline there are occasions when a Network Licensee is required to excavate in order to enable the following activities:

Locate blockages or obstructions which may have caused water ingress or debris build up and require removal

Locate specific parts of buried assets i.e. valves, bends, tees etc. which require pin pointing for maintenance

Determine valve open/closed status

The only existing method is to insert remote video cameras at regular intervals along the pipeline being surveyed. Typically, for remote video surveys, holes must be dug approx every 50 metres(m). Surveying long lengths of pipeline (> 100m) using this method is impractical. Other than remote video cameras there is currently no method to identify the exact location of problems or features of interest. Current techniques are typically multiple excavations supported (if appropriate to the problem under investigation) by pressure testing in the locality until the obstruction or asset can be found. There is a significant opportunity to reduce excavation, costs and time if a method to rapidly identify the location of features and causes of network problems can be developed.

Researchers at the University of Manchester had developed an acoustic monitoring system that was capable of surveying short and long lengths of pipe. The system had recently been commercialised for use in offshore natural gas pipelines and for surveying the relatively small tubes within shell and tube heat exchangers.

The system works by fires a sound pulse using a gas safe pulse injection system, it then "listens" to the return pulse waveform with a microphone, recording the reflected signal. The system analyses the return signal using purpose designed software.

The purpose of this collaborative project was to extend the technique and develop a tool that is capable of surveying pipes with lengths of up to 300m, diameters ranging from 25-200mm and rated for pressures of up to 350mbar, such that it can be used to survey the pipelines used in domestic gas distribution networks. The developed tool could be used for both planned and emergency reactive work in gas networks, where it has the following possible applications.

This document details the processes and learning from the project along with a summary of the field trials conducted which guide the recommendations and next steps. Following approval from all participating GDNs, this project began in May 2014 and progressed to field trial status in 2015/16. This document marks the closure of this project.

This report is divided into the following sections:

1. Introduction
2. Investment Proposal
3. Design and Development
4. Prototype System
5. Field Trials
6. Stage three -Test and optimise the prototype
7. Conclusion
8. Recommendation

• Appendix A - Stage 2 field trial results
• Appendix B - Stage 3 field trial results

The Acoustic Communication in Gas Pipes project is concerned with developing an alternative communication method to interconnect pressure monitoring and control equipment.

This project aimed to potentially replace the rented telephone landlines and mobile communication links presently used, and also provide improved network pressure control to minimise gas leakage.

Currently many of the low pressure gas networks employ data logger and electronic control equipment to monitor pressures and profile control governors. These collect operational data for management and planning purposes and minimise network pressures to reduce gas leakage.

The technique to be investigated is the use of acoustic communications within low pressure gas networks. The acoustic technique, through laboratory simulation and field trials was anticipated to provide gain an understanding of typical pipe network acoustic characteristics under operational gas conditions to ascertain a suitable transmission signature signal for data transfer and to discover the potential restrictions of the technique.

Having discussed potential new solutions with existing suppliers, it was deemed more valuable to send invitations to partner to Universities that have relevant experience in this area of work. Various Universities were contacted throughout Great Britain (GB), from which SGN received one positive response from the University of Southampton's Institute of Sound and Vibration Research. Their extensive experience in the analysis of sound and vibration propagation in pipe work systems demonstrated their pertinence in working on this project. Additionally, the University of Southampton extensive specialist research facilities for laboratory testing provided reliable and available testing conditions. SGN would provide access to typical low pressure networks to gather acoustic data for analysis and information to allow network models to be built and assessed for acoustic propagation.

To achieve the project aims, the University of Southampton proposed to develop suitable measurement, testing and recoding techniques capable of gathering acoustic data based on their understanding of SGN's pipe networks' acoustic characteristics. Laboratory simulation to test this new method would then be carried out, followed by an acoustic study on a typical gas main network. The equipment and techniques used to receive suitable acoustic signals would also be assessed. The received signal transmission would then be analysed to establish the characteristics of a potential suitable signature acoustic signal for transmission.

Following the testing of the electroacoustic instrumentation on metallic and plastic pipes, the equipment demonstrated that sound can be transmitted and measured along distances of up to 750 metres. A suitable sound signal level was also established to be typically below 1800 Hz in a 100mm plastic pipe diameter. Acoustic communication is possible using the electroacoustic instrumentation. However, sound reflected along metallic pipes and against certain pipe layouts, makes it difficult to communicate information accurately. Therefore, since pipes cannot be adjusted for acoustic communication purposes, the next steps would be to develop more suitable frequency modulated signals.

This report is divided into the following sections:

1. Introduction
2. Investment options
3. Project delivery
4. Project team structure
5. Site preparation works
6. Results of testing
7. Conclusion
8. Recommendations
9. University of Southampton Executive Summary
10. Introduction
11. Scope of document
12. Project objectives
13. Summary of test conducted
14. Results
15. Prediction model of sound transmission
16. Conclusions
17. Recommendations
18. References

The Networks Jigsaw event took place on the 5th September 2017. The aim of the event was to explore the importance of energy networks and the challenges these networks face in order to support the evolving way energy is provided and consumed in the UK. Speakers at this event included the ETI’s Director of Strategy Development Jo Coleman, Energy Storage and Distribution Programme Manager Rebecca Sweeney, Strategy Manager Liam Lidstone, Strategy Analyst Alex Buckman and Head of Innovation at the Energy Systems Catapult Eric Brown. This report contains the presentations from the event.

ETI’s Strategy Manager Liam Lidstone presented “Transitioning to a low carbon energy system: network challenges” at All Energy 2017 in Glasgow. This presentation covers

• Energy networks as a part of the energy system
• Energy system scenarios
• Network transition challenges
• Evidence base

ETI’s Strategy Manager Liam Lidstone presents “UK Energy Networks - Transition Challenges” at a Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) talk. This presentation covers

• Energy networks as a part of the energy system
• Energy system scenarios
• Network transition challenges
• Transitioning electricity networks
• Transitioning gas networks
• Transitioning heat networks
• Transitioning hydrogen networks
• Integrating networks to optimise across energy vectors
• Balancing supply and demand
• Policy and economic factors

Systems thinking is critical, which means across vectors and up and down the energy supply chain.

This paper examines the state of the UK's changing demand for gas, and how it can manage the shift in supply and demand over the coming decades.

Over the coming decades the UK energy system will need to transition in order to meet challenging greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets. Population growth, changing demographics, and changing patterns of energy use will all affect how energy needs to be provided.

Equally, the availability of natural resources, the maturity of technologies, their relative costs and the various factors that influence their sustainability, will all affect the ways in which energy can be produced and supplied.

For a variety of practical and economic reasons, energy is rarely created in the location it is ultimately consumed. Networks perform the vital role of transporting energy from where it is produced to where it is required. They also perform a crucial role in helping to balance supply and demand, ensuring that energy is not only available in the right locations but also atthe right time. This part of their role is likely to take on greater significance as the energy system evolves.

Currently, most of the UK’s energy is moved around the country, and sometimes beyond, by electricity and gas networks, and the liquid fuel supply system (e.g. petrol and diesel). The roles of these networks will inevitably change as the ways in which we provide and consume energy evolve and as other networks emerge, not least those carrying heat and hydrogen. It is imperative that all of these networks are fit for purpose and robust enough to respond to future uncertainties. Choices need to be made about which networks to build, develop, maintain or decommission, as well as where and when to do so. As networks can take years or even decades to build, the right decisions must be made ahead of need. Equally, once they are built, networks cannot easily be movedor changed, so decisions need to beright for the long term.

It is also likely that there will need to be significantly more interaction between different parts of the energy system in the future, and therefore, by implication, there will need to be more interaction between the respective networks. Consequently, decisions about the future of networks should also consider how other energy networks are likely to evolve.

All of the above is in the context of significant uncertainty; any future network investments therefore need to be robust in the face of a range of possible transition pathway outcomes.

In this insight report we set out some of the key issues faced over the coming decades in pursuing different choices in relation to energy networks. We have focused on electricity, gas, heat and hydrogen networks, which we believe have vital roles to playover the period out to 2050. Our analysis also highlights the importance of CO₂ networks and transport fuel over that period out to 2050.