A word from our CEO

Innovation is truly at the heart of everything we do. As we prepare for the transition to net zero in 2050, it plays a central role in helping us to push boundaries and discover new and more effective ways of operating and supporting our millions of customers.

We’re continually innovating to ensure we keep improving our operations for customers, support the UK’s journey to net zero and increase awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO). The Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) funding stream and Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) we receive from our regulator Ofgem are vital tools in helping us to achieve these objectives.

We've identified how smarter gas pipe commissioning could potentially reduce methane emissions by 87,000 tonnes, and through our Hydrogen Farm of the Future project we examined how hydrogen could help decarbonise the farming sector.

Continuing the hydrogen theme, we've partnered with Wales & West Utilities, DNV and Equilibrion to investigate how nuclear-enabled hydrogen could contribute to solving the UK’s net zero challenge. In a separate initiative funded by the RIIO-GD2 ‘Use it or Lose it’ allowance, we also explored how to connect industries across the East Coast to a hydrogen network.

Our innovation hasn’t stopped there. In collaboration with wearable technology specialists Affotek, we co-invented the world’s first wristwatch capable of detecting carbon monoxide. We also developed Navigator, a socially responsible energy system planning tool, designed to better integrate gas, electricity, heat, and water sectors for a more future-ready infrastructure. Also, at our whole energy systems testbed in Gateshead, we've been identifying the most effective, affordable, and sustainable heating solutions for UK homes, by testing different heating systems, controls, and fabric upgrades across various house types.

As the RIIO-GD2 regulatory period comes close to its end, innovation remains more important than ever in supporting delivery of our overarching objectives: provide a safe, reliable gas service; support the transition to net zero; continue to modernise our operations and provide help to our vulnerable customers, ultimately creating a fairer, greener future for the North of England.

I hope you enjoy reading about some of the most innovative projects we’ve carried out this year, and if you’d like to find out more or have a suggestion for how we can work together, please get in touch with our Innovation team.