Wales & West Utilities explores gas and electricity smart links

Wales & West Utilities (WWU) has launched a project to explore how smart links between gas and electricity networks can make better use of renewable energy.

The HyVoltage Project is being led by the gas network operator, with National Grid Electricity Distribution as a non-funding partner.

It will assess the viability of introducing what WWU calls “flexible vector conversion sites” with integrated smart links between both gas and electricity distribution networks.

These “smart sites”, it said, would produce hydrogen for storage or the gas grid when electricity supply exceeds demand, making better use of renewables, and generate clean power when it is needed on the electricity grid.

“This could help overcome key challenges to delivering a net zero energy system, such as the ability to store energy; produce low-carbon gas; generate electricity when it’s needed most; and integrate these technologies with the energy network,” WWU explained.

Professor Phil Taylor from the University of Bristol will act as the project’s expert adviser, with support from academics from Imperial College London. Consultants Frazer Nash are also working on the project and will be supported by Cornwall Insight.

Sian Rowlands, innovation manager at Wales & West Utilities, said: “Gas and electricity distribution networks will be required to work together to achieve net zero emissions targets and secure future system resilience.

“A key output of the HyVoltage Project will be a strategic view of the feasibility of vector conversion links and the beneficial role these could play in enabling gas network infrastructure to play its full role in the net-zero transition.

“If successful, our project hopes to show that exploiting existing gas network infrastructure is crucial to transitioning to a green energy system, offering significant cost savings for networks and consumers, regardless of whether the networks are used for distribution, storage or both.”