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for market change, could include
reports, recommendations for further
work, Unified Network Code (UNC) or
licence change proposals.
Industry engagement
Industry engagement is essential to
ensure the success of the GMaP and
related focus areas. The collective
knowledge of the issues and potential
solutions will help drive outcomes in the
best interests of the end consumer. To
further enhance industry engagements,
we have created two new engagement
routes: the Future of Gas Forum and the
Future of Gas Steering Group.

The Future of Gas Forum: These are open
industry-wide events for engagement
on the GMaP and related focus area
activities as well as a platform for
wider related industry discussion,
education and collaboration. We
recently hosted our second forum
event at Birmingham’s Burlington
Hotel, which was attended by over
80 industry members. Speakers on
the day included National Grid, the
Energy Network Association, BEIS and
Tyseley Energy Park. The theme of the
event was ‘innovation driving market
change’. We plan to host our third forum
later in 2020. The forum helps to raise
Implement: Use existing governance We already know the next version awareness of activity across the industry
routes for changing gas market rules. will include a report card on what has to support debate and develop market-
been done, a high-level assessment of based solutions for a net zero future.
The GMaP highlighted three areas for any environmental factors that could
particular focus in 2020: gas quality, affect the range of possible gas futures, The Future of Gas Steering Group: A body
hydrogen and balancing. A process is and consideration of the following created to provide leadership, strategic
now underway to create focus areas for year’s forward plan of work. direction and cross-industry support
each topic. by bringing together a broad range of
Why gas quality: The market rules and Next Steps in 2020 perspectives. The steering group has
legislation on composition of gas The programme will now focus on 22 members from across the value
entering the network will need to be setting up and delivering outputs from chain, with members nominated from
modified if low carbon gases are to the specific focus areas outlined in the specific areas to ensure the broadest
enter the network. GMaP, with each to deliver the following possible representation. The group
outputs in 2020: helped to develop and define priorities
Why hydrogen: Hydrogen could play a for Enabling the Gas Markets Plan and is
significant role in the decarbonisation of Knowledge share: This should make the now supporting the focus areas.
heating. However, it is unclear how and topic digestible to the wider industry, Whatever energy future we find
where it will be produced and consumed, not just the specialists. The gas quality ourselves in, low carbon gases will have
how it will be transported and when a knowledge share was published in a significant role to play in meeting
hydrogen transition could begin. January 2020. ambitious decarbonisation targets.
Therefore, the gas market rules need
Why balancing: The UK’s supply mix and gas Market issue assessment: This report will to be fit for purpose so that they can
demand profile could be very different in examine what the pertinent issues of help enable the energy transition.
a decade, so the balancing focus area will the future could be related to a focus The Gas Markets Plan aims to be the
look at whether the existing rules and area and start to look at what projects driver of proactive market change, to
tools would be still fit for purpose. could be undertaken to explore them in bring the industry together to meet the
The GMaP aims to be digestible by more detail. challenges head on.
the wider industry, and feedback is
welcome from all parties. The first Project delivery: Once the priorities All materials on the Gas Markets Plan
version of the GMaP is the foundation are determined through an industry have been made available on the Future of
from which future versions of scoping day, detailed work packages Gas website. Visit www.futureofgas.uk for
the document will be built as the will be developed and undertaken that, more information. The team welcomes any
programme evolves. depending on the project and urgency feedback and input on the programme.

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