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designing the future

and cost to consumers in the home.
We’re working with the Welsh
government and others to understand
what a large-scale roll out of smart hybrid
systems could look like in practice.
Pairing smart hybrid systems with
green gas further reduces carbon
emissions and requires no significant
changes to appliances or heating
systems. Over the past few years, Wales
& West Utilities has worked hard to
connect biomethane plants to its
network. Injecting green gas at low
pressure, rather than stepping gas down
the pressure tiers as has been done for
decades, is probably one of the most
significant changes to operation of the
gas network. We now have 19 of these STORAGE BULLETS
plants connected, capable of providing
energy to over 120,000 homes. When people employed in the steel industry As we approach 2021, the focus of
paired with hybrid heating systems, in Wales than any other region in the many in the gas distribution sector has
which reduce gas demand through the UK. If we are to meet our net zero target already turned to the RIIO-GD2 price
year but still rely on gas’s flexibility and in a just and a sustainable way, it’s control review. At Wales & West
ramp rate at peak times, our connected essential that industries like steel are Utilities, we’ll be setting out a bold and
capacity today could heat 600,000 supported through the transition. While comprehensive plan for the future of
homes already. steelworks across the world use blast energy, building on our learning in
furnaces fuelled by coke today, trials are RIIO-GD1. Our ambitious plan will lay
The electrification of the taking place in Europe that could see the foundations for the decarbonisation
this replaced with hydrogen, allowing
of heat, power and transport in our
railways may have stalled the production of green steel. regions, delivering a gas network that is
in the UK, but a record- The final third of emissions that net zero-ready by 2035. The plan,
breaking increase in the needs to be addressed is transport. The strongly endorsed by customers and
electrification of the railways may have
stakeholders alike, will play a key role
number of electric vehicles stalled in the UK, but a record-breaking in meeting the national 2050 target too.
on the road means we are increase in the number of electric To deliver the plan, with all the
making good progress vehicles on the road means we are benefits it will bring for the economy
making good progress. There is still and the environment, it’s essential that
more to do, however, particularly where we can continue to invest in the gas
Where big cities and industry are heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and public mains replacement programme, as well
concerned, we see their future heating transport are concerned. Compressed as network reinforcement to continue
needs met by hydrogen. Working with natural gas (CNG) buses and HGVs are to support renewable generation, CNG
our fellow gas networks, we were part already in use. Our network is adapting vehicles and increasing the amount of
of the H21 project, which demonstrated to this demand, with connections in green gas injected into our network.
that converting parts of the existing gas Bristol and Plymouth already fuelling So, if the gas engineer of 1919 and
network in the UK could deliver buses, improving air quality as well as 2019 were to be joined by a gas
significant reductions in carbon reducing carbon emissions. engineer from 2119, there would be
emissions while keeping the impact on clear differences. Things like pipeline
customers (both in terms of bills and maintenance and leakage repair will
work required in homes and be done in dramatically different ways
communities) to a minimum. In the in the next century, while the makeup
area we serve, H21 initially identified of gas will almost certainly be
Cardiff and Bristol as potential converts different. But their reason for being
to hydrogen. I am sure the irony is not will remain the same; the delivery of a
lost on gas engineers nationwide that safe and reliable supply of energy
almost 50 years after we switched from relied on by homeowners, businesses
towns gas, which was 50 per cent and industry alike.
hydrogen, we are now proposing
switching back to a greener hydrogen. Chris Clarke will be presenting Wales &
Our work suggests that a hydrogen West Utilities’ net zero-ready vision at the
spine could stretch from Bristol across IGEM South West Section’s paper evening
the Severn to Cardiff and Swansea, not on Tuesday, 3 December. Book your place
only allowing the conversion of those at bit.ly/IGEMswriio19. You can also hear
cities, but also supporting the discussion of the company’s vision on The
decarbonisation of heavy industry. Utility Room, the Wales & West Utilities
Steel, for example, has a significant podcast. Search ‘Utility Room’ on Spotify
footprint in South Wales with more SMART HYBRID GAS BOILER or iTunes.

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