significant long-term gains on the road to net zero. This focus on network repurposing is at the heart of Project Union, an initiative led by National Gas to explore how existing pipelines, alongside new builds, could form a UK hydrogen ‘backbone’ supporting both industry and power generation. Complementing this, the FutureGrid programme has demonstrated that the National Transmission System (NTS) can safely transport hydrogen blends of up to 2%, 5%, 20%, and even 100%. Building on these findings, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has launched a consultation on enabling up to 2% hydrogen blending by volume into the national gas system. Looking ahead, transitioning Britain’s gas network from methane to hydrogen will require a carefully coordinated approach. This includes ensuring that every home and business currently connected to the gas grid is provided with an alternative fuel source if they are not designated to receive hydrogen, either in blended form or as pure hydrogen. In areas of local distribution networks (LDNs) expected to convert fully to hydrogen, as well as for extensive facilities directly connected to the grid (such as power plants and storage sites), adjustments will also be required behind the meter to account for the technical differences between methane and hydrogen. Beyond the pipeline Adapting infrastructure for a hydrogen economy goes far beyond the NTS. Gas plants and storage facilities will be essential for a reliable energy supply, with many existing sites already suited for hydrogen blending of up to 20%. Higher blending levels, however, will require significant upgrades. These can be phased, starting with industrial clusters and power generation, allowing for a gradual transition to wide-scale hydrogen production while maximising the use of existing infrastructure. Gas storage facilities, such as salt caverns, can also be repurposed for long-duration energy storage (LDES) of hydrogen, helping to balance supply and demand and maintain grid stability, particularly given the intermittent nature of renewable energy generation and the
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Decarbonising our energy system will involve significant costs and trade-offs. Therefore, all options must be thoroughly considered. The question for every sector is how to identify and implement ‘low-regret’ technology solutions that provide beneficial outcomes with minimal risk. Developing a hydrogen economy With the publication of the Clean Energy 2030 Action Plan and the decision to establish a Hydrogen to Power (H2P) business model, the government has reinforced the central role of hydrogen in the UK’s energy transition. Using hydrogen to store surplus renewable energy during periods of high output and low demand provides a promising decarbonisation pathway, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors. Maximising the value of existing infrastructure will be crucial to hydrogen’s successful adoption. Repurposing the existing gas network can accelerate the development of industrial hydrogen clusters while supporting a cost- effective transition towards a cleaner energy system. The UK’s extensive pipeline network represents a valuable national asset, and assessing its suitability for hydrogen distribution is therefore a critical first step. Such an assessment would examine pipeline materials, operating pressures, and susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement, making this one of the ‘low-regret’ actions with the potential for Figure 1 Growth in hydrogen demand across the three transition pathways up to 2050. Source: NESO FES 2025
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