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igem news

Matt Hindle, Head of Gas for the Energy Before the final speaker of the day, developed by an expert team and is
Networks Association, works with ENA’s delegates were treated to a special ready for final sign off by our newly-
members on issues affecting the gas video presentation from the winners formed IGEM Hydrogen Committee.
transmission and distribution networks. of Solutions for the Planet’s Big Ideas “This is great progress and, together
His presentation covered the latest competition. Students from Mayfield with our supportive work on the safety
findings of ENA’s Gas Decarbonisation School, in Portsmouth, came up with case for hydrogen, plus international
Pathways project and how the gas the idea for RenewAbus – a bus powered knowledge sharing, we are enabling
networks plan to build a low cost, low solely by a combination of three types of the progression to unoccupied and
carbon gas network for the future. renewable energy – after taking part in occupied building hydrogen trials.
Trisha McAuley OBE gave an insight the IGEM-sponsored competition. “We are also exploring how IGEM can
into the work of National Grid’s consumer Finally, Mike Muldoon, Head of become a knowledge depository for the
groups and the challenges the network Business Development and Marketing industry on all matters hydrogen.
faces in ensuring that the consumer’s at Alstom Transport UK and Ireland, “However, we’ve recognised that
voice is heard across the business. spoke about hydrogen-powered trains technological considerations alone are
Dr Alan Whitehead MP, Shadow and their potential to reduce the carbon not enough – we must also address the
Minister of Energy and Climate Change for footprint of UK transport. skills requirements needed to assure
the Department of Business, Energy and Following the conference, IGEM the competent handling and utilisation
Industrial Strategy, shared an overview of CEO Neil Atkinson said: “I’ve been of hydrogen for 26 million households.
the third report in the IGEM-sponsored thrilled by the positive feedback from “On this point, IGEM and Kiwa
Future Gas Series, which was released our Annual Conference this year. The have already introduced an approved
in October. You can read more about the overarching message of the day was hydrogen awareness training course
report on pages 20-22 of this edition of Gi. to stop talking about the need for a aimed at managers in the industry. But
Dr Matthew Lipson, of the Energy hydrogen economy and start looking at this is just the start; a whole programme
Systems Catapult, spoke about the solid actions to get us there. for skilling and reskilling must be
business potential of heat-as-a-service as “IGEM is already playing a central developed to ensure hydrogen becomes
smart home technology makes it easier role in supporting the £25 million part of the gas safety forward agenda.”
for energy providers to understand Hy4Heat programme and I am IGEM would like to thank all of the
consumer needs. delighted that our members are taking speakers, event sponsors Cadent,
Becky Rix, Marketing Director of up the many opportunities to contribute National Grid, Northern Gas Networks,
Roadgas, explained how Nottingham their expertise and knowledge to it. SGN and Wales & West Utilities, and all
City Transport will have the largest fleet “The starting point, of course, is the of the organisations who exhibited, for
of biogas buses in the world by the end production of new technical standards making this event possible.
of the year – an excellent example of for the industry. The first of these,
how the transport sector is contributing dealing with low pressure distribution Catch up with the conference
to UK decarbonisation. and the use of hydrogen, has been at IGEMtv. Go to bit.ly/IGEM-tv

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