National Grid granted funding to explore analyser technology for blended gases

National Grid has been granted funding as part of the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) competition to explore different gas analyser technologies and determine whether they are suitable to analyse blends of natural gas and hydrogen.

Gas analysers are used today to measure gas quality data. Currently available technology can analyse 100% natural gas and 100% hydrogen gas streams, but not gas blends. As the gas network transitions to net zero, customer requirements are likely to vary, needing different blends of natural gas and hydrogen. This scenario will require a significantly larger volume of networked gas quality sensors than we have today, providing an opportunity to innovate in Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.

Loughborough University and Des19ncor Limited have developed a fuel cell-based gas sensor (FCS) that has undergone a first concept demonstration. This suggests it may be suitable for analysing various natural gas and hydrogen blends, whilst advancing capability as an IoT sensor.

National Grid has been granted ￡113,414 of the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) for this Discovery phase Data and Digitalisation project. This is the first in a three-phase competition and is a feasibility study to examine the FCS in detail, to determine whether it can analyse various blended gases whilst developing its IoT system architecture.

Working in collaboration with Des19ncor and Cadent Gas, the National Grid Gas Transmission Hydrogen Innovation team will benchmark the FCS capability against other gas analyser systems and further prove the capability of the technology.

Martin Croft, Managing Director at Des19ncor, said “We are delighted to be part of this consortium, delivering a focused innovation programme, and helping to make Loughborough University, and our technology have a greater net zero impact.”

This project is funded by energy network users and consumers through the Strategic Innovation Fund, a programme from the UK’s independent energy regulator Ofgem, managed in partnership with Innovate UK.

About the Strategic Innovation Fund:?the purpose of Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund is to support network innovation that will contribute to achieving Net Zero rapidly and at lowest cost; deliver real net benefits to network companies, energy users and consumers; and help the UK to become a ‘Silicon Valley’ of energy. It aims to work with other public funders of innovation so that activities appropriately funded by energy users and consumers are coordinated with activities funded by Government. The Fund is delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.

About Ofgem: Ofgem is Britain’s independent energy regulator. Their role is to protect consumers now and in the future by working to deliver a greener, fairer energy system. They do this by:

???????Working with Government, industry and consumer groups to deliver a net zero economy at the lowest cost to consumers

???????Stamping out sharp and bad practice, ensuring fair treatment for all consumers, especially the vulnerable.

???????Enabling competition and innovation, which drives down prices and results in new products and services for consumers.

?About Innovate UK: Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency, part of UK Research and Innovation. It drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base.