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Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) Projects
Supporting the UK’s energy transition
This project focused on larger non-domestic spaces, which are commonly protected by the installation of AIV systems under natural gas service today. An AIV system typically includes a gas detector, a control system, and a solenoid valve, which can be actuated to close upon detection of a specified concentration of gas. These valves are often interlocked to other safety systems within a premises (e.g. fire alarm) and can also be operated manually via an emergency stop button. Over the course of 23/24, we conducted site visits to non-domestic properties and used the learning from other research, such as hydrogen dispersion to inform the optimal location of detectors, with the setting up of a full AIV system to demonstrate how an AIV system could be used under hydrogen service. The final report was submitted to the HSE in late 2023 ahead of wider publication. Use of Automatic Isolation Valve (AIV) systems with hydrogen – AIVs in LP and MP Services
Dispersion of Helium Releases in Domestic Properties This is one of the EUSE projects, which is looking at the role that ventilation and gas detection may play in the conversion of domestic properties to use hydrogen in the UK. Utilising helium, the project has aimed to look at the behaviour and movement of a buoyant gas and how it will disperse in a range of real, lived-in domestic properties and how the layout of a property may impact its dispersion and accumulation. These findings will help enable decisions to be made on the use of ventilation and optimal locations of hydrogen detectors to support the first use of hydrogen in the home. End User Behaviour – Impact on Safety This project commenced in 2022/23; looking at bridging the gap between technical research and consumer attitudes towards gas safety in the home, covering current gas safety practice and how this might change with hydrogen. Over the course of 23/24, we have surveyed over four thousand people to supplement a literature review and focus groups. The project is on track to submit its final report to the HSE for peer review in June 2024.
Over the past year we have continued to deliver research projects focused on the provision of evidence to support the government’s decision making over the role of hydrogen, both as a blend into our networks and for use in heating. As part of this work, we have supported the Department of Energy and Net Zero (DESNZ) with a programme looking at End User Safety Evidence (EUSE). This work has been undertaken in collaboration with all the Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) and National Gas Transmission and has consisted of a programme of circa 19 projects, focusing on hydrogen applications downstream of the Emergency Control Valve (ECV). The research was initially to support the hydrogen village trials, however in the absence of a trial, the evidence is now forming part of the evidence being submitted to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in support of the use of 100% hydrogen in our networks. The policy decision on hydrogen’s use for heating is anticipated in 2026, with the HSE on track to review the evidence from ours and other GDNs research in the year leading up to this.
It is accepted that with a transition of our networks to 100% hydrogen, contaminants will be introduced to the hydrogen supply on its journey to the end user, with hydrogen quality standards specifying a purity of at least 98% for safe combustion in typical domestic/non-domestic appliances. This project has looked to understand the impact of the typical contaminants that will be present in repurposed gas networks, to understand if the presence of certain trace components in the hydrogen supply will have an impact on materials and combustion processes for domestic end users. The project started in 22/23 and has made substantial progress over 23/24, with both the materials and combustion testing programmes now complete and final report submitted to the HSE earlier this year. Implications of hydrogen purity
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