Collaborating to create a cleaner, fairer future
Whole systems thinking considers all types of energy generation and network operations, promoting a collaborative approach amongst utility companies to help the UK reach its net zero targets.
Over the past four years, we’ve participated in various industry conferences and events alongside other gas distribution networks and utility providers, building stronger partnerships and exploring how we can collectively contribute to a more sustainable future.
Through attendance at events like the Energy Innovation Summit, Innovation Zero and Utility Week Live, we have spoken to a wide range of stakeholders and government representatives about immediate and longer-term environmental priorities, which has informed our thinking and will shape our future approach.
We have also continued to develop a strong collaboration with the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC), a not-for-profit organisation that brings industry and innovators together. In response to feedback from over 200 innovators, we have worked with the EIC to develop a joint plan called the ‘2025 Innovator Action Plan’, which aims to support innovators, particularly SMEs, from early-stage idea development through to successful deployment with gas and electricity distributors.
Planning for the future
NGN left the Energy Networks Association (ENA) in July 2024 to join the Future Energy Networks (FEN). FEN is a collaborative organisation comprised of the owner and operator of the gas transmission network, National Gas, and the four GDNs – NGN, Cadent Gas, SGN, and Wales and West Utilities. Its mission aligns with NGN’s commitment to an equitable and affordable transition to net zero for all.
Through FEN, NGN will continue to access a network of experts and resources dedicated to driving innovation and collaboration within the energy sector. This will allow us to attract other networks and be transformational, whilst also enabling us to work with new partners, driving new ideas that contribute to the transition to net zero. NGN and the other gas networks will maintain their existing relationships with the electricity networks, and use the new FEN smarter networks portal to engage with the wider energy and utility sectors.
Our FEN innovation process has recently been updated to highlight the progress we’ve made so far, and detail how we’ll move forward in the coming years. We’ve also submitted our GD3 business plan to Ofgem, which involved increased internal and external engagement to help us create our future strategy.
Matthieu Michel Operations Director at EIC
“The NGN and EIC Partnership continues to flourish. NGN was the first gas distribution network to join the EIC Partnership in 2012 and it now benefits from access to an evolving global innovation community of over 10,000 innovators. The EIC facilitates cross-sector collaboration and supports the end-to-end innovation process, whilst continuously improving the support available to innovators. This enables NGN to leverage established processes and resources to accelerate the deployment of innovation.
“Highlights from the past year include five innovation challenges being advertised to innovators, several innovation projects being started, solutions transitioning into business as usual, plus additional support resources developed in response to direct feedback from innovators, including a Procurement Guide and Innovation Deployment Guidance.”
