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FIGURE 1 BEACH TO METER                                           FIGURE 2 VARIETY OF THE MODERN GAS SUPPLY
                                                                                      HYDROGEN SHALE  LNG  BIOMETHANE  NORTH SEA GAS

















                                                                                     Heat demand is directly linked to
                                                                                   the weather, and as such, it inherently
                                                                                   has an intra-seasonal mismatch.
                                                                                   Heat demand in winter months is
                                                                                   significantly greater than summer
                                                                                   months. This is in stark contrast to
                                                                                   annual electricity demand².
                                                                                     Heat demand is highly compatible
                                                                                   with natural gas, due to its high energy
                                                                                   density, low price and storability. Peak
                                                                                   heat demand can be five times that
                                                                                   of electricity, and can ramp up to ten
                                                                                   times that number. The challenge is
                                                                                   delivering energy that is clean, secure
                                                                                   and affordable to fit that demand, which
                                                                                   is difficult to change. Natural gas is a
                                                                                   fossil fuel, and its continued use is not
                                                                                   compliant with our drive to decarbonise.
                                                                                   Electricity is an energy vector capable
                                                                                   of transporting renewable energy, and
                                                                                   the emergence of hydrogen will bring
                                                                                   another to the market.
                                                                                     The drive to decarbonise heat
                                                                                   has encouraged the emergence of
                                                                                   downstream renewable technologies.
                                                                                   The status quo of using natural gas
                                                                                   combusted in boilers is beginning to
                 investments, compared to the estimate   changes now and in the future.   change, as heat pumps and hybrid
                 delivered by the current approach to   Achieving net zero decarbonisation in   units gain some market penetration.
                 demand modelling.                line with government targets presents   This will have an inherent impact on
                   Our supply of gas and how we use it   a significant challenge to the industry.   gas demand. A heat pump operates
                 has changed and will continue to do so.   Heat is a particularly challenging sector   by transferring heat energy from the
                 This project will transform the way we   of our energy system to decarbonise and  outside of a property inside through
                 view our network, and bring the way we   the vast majority of our heat is delivered  a vapour refrigeration cycle. Heat is
                 model it up-to-date to deal with these   by natural gas.          absorbed through a heat exchanger


                 FIGURE 3 GAS DEMAND APRIL 2017 TO MARCH 2018
                                                                      214 GW 2018.03.01 18:00:00
                   200 GW                                                                          GAS - LOCAL DISTRIBUTION
                                                                                                   ZONE DEMAND
                                                                                                   ELECTRICITY - ELEXON SUPPLY
                                                                                                   PLUS EMBEDDED GENERATION
                   150 GW


                   100 GW


                   50 GW


                     GW
                            APR   MAY    JUN   JUL   AUG   SEP   OCT   NOV   DEC   JAN   FEB   MAR


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        RealTimeNetworks.indd   2                                                                                 15/08/2019   15:54
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