Wood to design the UK’s future gas grid with National Gas

Wood is working with National Gas to ensure Britain’s gas transmission system is secure and sustainable.

National Gas currently operates the entire GB gas transmission system and has appointed Wood to digitally upgrade 7,600km of essential pipelines, compressor stations and terminal infrastructure as part of their commitment to energy transition.

Through a five-year framework agreement, Wood will apply digital solutions to transform National Gas infrastructure to modern, cyber-secure technology across their entire network of critical assets across Britain.

Wood is also delivering specialist hydrogen studies to National Gas on its National Transmission System (NTS) to support its target of achieving net zero by 2050. Wood Virtuoso, an industry leading digital twin solution, will analyse the characteristics of blended hydrogen and natural gas and advise on the level of investment required to repurpose the NTS infrastructure to transport hydrogen on 25% of its pipelines.

Blending up to 20% hydrogen into the gas grid with existing natural gas could save around six million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

Azad Hessamodini, Wood’s Executive President of Consulting, said: “This work demonstrates the intrinsic link between digitalisation and decarbonisation and Wood’s expertise to deliver tangible solutions that drive towards the industry’s net zero goals.

“We are pleased to be working and innovating with National Gas to deliver an upgraded and secure digital system that will meet the needs of the future UK energy environment. Through our ability to combine hydrogen and digital expertise, we are also providing a path for NGT to transition to low-carbon fuels through hydrogen blending, further supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions. National Gas is leading the way in the blending of hydrogen into pipelines not only to fuel industry, but to also serve homes, communities, and businesses.”

The NTS was constructed in the 1960s and ’70s, with technology that is now reaching the end of its design life. As an independent systems integrator, Wood will streamline, stack and upgrade the various systems to drive innovation and increase performance.