Commissioned study will aid the energy transition of industrial and commercial gas users across Wales and the south west of England Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been selected by Wales & West Utilities (WWU) to support its industrial and commercial (I&C) gas users to switch to low carbon solutions like hydrogen. Costain will lead a study examining how WWU’s I&C customers – many of whom are connected to the natural gas network – could transition to a lower carbon network through a hydrogen blend or conversion. Many I&C customers are considered hard-to-decarbonise due to the high temperatures and energy demands needed to carry out their operations, which cannot be met through electrification alone. Research into the role of hydrogen, and the potential for blending solutions in the gas network, is a key part of providing the evidence to drive forward the UK’s net zero ambitions and reaching national targets of generating 10GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2030. Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected to establish the market’s current level of understanding around hydrogen refuelling plans and users’ preferred means of decarbonisation, such as through the deployment of Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage solutions or utilising a hydrogen network. The research will also geographically map users and help WWU understand which customers will need additional support to ensure that the transition to hydrogen blending does not impact their operations. Laura Hughes, energy sector director at Costain, commented: “To make decarbonisation of the UK a reality, a mix of clean fuels will be required to meet increasing energy demands. Integrating hydrogen into our gas network, either through blending or full conversion, will be instrumental in providing clean, reliable energy for 2050 and beyond. “Through this important study, Wales & West Utilities will have a good understanding of market requirements which will help accelerate the UK’s decarbonisation mission. With our long track record of delivering pioneering and innovative solutions to reduce carbon emissions, we are well placed to provide to WWU with the insights they need to implement viable fuel switching plans for their customers.” Matthew Hindle, head of net zero and sustainability at Wales and West Utilities added: “The energy system transition means changes for everyone who uses energy – including industrial and commercial businesses of all sizes, many of whom rely on the gas network today and could use hydrogen in the future. “At WWU we’re committed to doing all we can to improve understanding and help our customers across Wales and the south west of England implement sustainable transition plans. We look forward to working with the Costain team to help us support our customers and better understand their needs.” Costain is providing a range of support to WWU’s decarbonisation activity, including conducting a separate study exploring how hydrogen refuelling stations can be integrated into the UK’s existing gas network. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Multimillion-pound FEED project will enable new hydrogen distribution network in Teesside. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been awarded a multimillion-pound front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by bp for a new hydrogen pipeline network in the Teesside area. Costain’s multi-disciplinary in-house engineering team will deliver the FEED to enable the construction for a new, 31km onshore pipeline distribution network that will deliver purified and dehydrated hydrogen from bp’s new hydrogen production facility to industrial end users. Costain is expected to complete the FEED project in 2025. Operated by bp, as part of the East Coast Cluster, H2Teesside (H2T) is aiming to be one of the biggest blue hydrogen production facilities in the UK and will produce approximately 160,000 tonnes of low carbon hydrogen per annum. The blue hydrogen that H2T creates will ultimately displace natural gas consumption by industrial end users, establishing the hydrogen economy and enabling decarbonisation across the region. Earlier this year, Costain successfully completed the FEED for the onshore CO2 pipeline and associated utilities and was recently selected by bp to continue the work to the next stage and oversee and manage the engineering, procurement and construction of the CO2 system. Detailed engineering design and preparatory works will commence later this year, subject to final investment decisions. Sam White, managing director of natural resources at Costain, said: “This exciting project is a step change for UK decarbonisation. Our in-house engineering expertise will design a world-leading network that will safely transport hydrogen to provide industrial users with an alternative to natural gas, a key step in the development of the hydrogen economy. “In addition to the environmental benefits, this is a project that will be transformative for Teesside and its people, creating jobs and developing skills throughout the region. In transportation, water, and energy, we’re committed to delivering critical infrastructure that improves lives and prosperity across the North-East of England.” In addition, Technip Energies has been selected by bp to deliver FEED for the H2Teesside hydrogen production site. This will include establishing the execution methodology, a robust schedule and project cost. It is expected to complete FEED in 2025.  Andy Lane, VP for hydrogen and CCUS at bp, UK, said: “These agreements mark further critical milestones for H2Teesside as the project continues to move towards EPC contracts and then construction. The project could play a critical role in decarbonising industry on Teesside, helping to transform the region into a leading hydrogen hub and kickstart the UK’s low carbon hydrogen economy.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

GTC is continuing to advance domestic heating solutions with the delivery and installation of its innovative Community Heat Hub at The Gateway, the Vistry Bexhill development in Sussex. The transformative replacement for gas meets the requirements of the 2025 Future Homes Standard (FHS) and is set to revolutionise the heating of new builds across the UK. The Vistry Bexhill development marks the second UK site to deploy GTC’s efficient and sustainable centralised heat network solution, following the successful trial of the Community Heat Hub last year at Taylor Wimpey’s Westfield Heath’s site in Suffolk. When assessed under the FHS, which comes into effect next year, carbon savings of 81% are predicted for the Vistry Bexhill development, when compared with individual gas boilers. Vistry, one of the UK’s largest housebuilders, will use the GTC heat network solution on the Bexhill site to provide heat and hot water from a central source on the development, owned and maintained by a specialist company. Over a two-phase build, this will serve 801 houses, as well as a primary school, sports pavilion, community centre and retail units. While networked heat solutions have long been utilised in urban areas, the Community Heat Hub is the first product of its kind that is commercially viable and practical for low-rise, low-density sites. Building on the proven methods from its sister company, Metropolitan’s, extensive experience in high-density developments, GTC has committed to rolling out the innovative solution to low-density sites. John Marsh, COO at GTC, said: “Homeowners within the new Bexhill development will have a reliable supply of heat and water, all while having the peace of mind that their energy usage is at net zero. We are always looking for innovative solutions to decarbonise domestic heating, and the Community Heat Hub has proved to be incredibly effective in new developments. We look forward to welcoming our new customers to the net zero heat network.” Brendan Evans, managing director at Vistry Kent, said: “The installation of the Community Heat Hub at The Gateway is a significant step not only for residents living at the development but also for the wider goal of achieving net zero. “At Vistry, we are committed to achieving a 75 to 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions in new homes by 2025 compared to 2021. Cutting-edge low-carbon technologies such as this will play a key role in meeting that target. “We are proud to become only the second site in the UK to utilise this energy efficient heat network and look forward to working in partnership with GTC to roll out this technology to more of our new developments across the region.” The Community Heat Hub at Bexhill is estimated to save around 850 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually in comparison to individual gas boilers in homes. If you’re looking for a heat solution that already meets the proposed standards outlined within the FHS and you want to partner with a company with innovation and market-leading expertise at its core, then please contact GTC via https://www.gtc-uk.co.uk/contact-us/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

New nuclear capacity may not be ready in time to provide the required increase in baseload electricity, according to a recent report from the National Engineering Policy Centre. As a result, the UK may need to approve new gas-fired power stations to decarbonise its electricity systems by 2030, presenting a challenging decision for the Labour government. The report indicates that maintaining the electricity supply for the rest of the decade and beyond will necessitate additional baseload power, which new nuclear power stations will not be able to provide in time. While the UK’s existing gas-fired power stations are expected to continue operating as long as possible, more will likely be needed. Although wind and solar generation are poised for significant expansion, the country’s nuclear reactors are ageing, and coal is nearly phased out. Nilay Shah, a professor of process systems engineering at Imperial College London and a co-author of the report, stated: “There is a reasonable chance that we will need new gas-fired power stations.” However, he emphasised the importance of ensuring these stations are genuinely ready for the attachment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, potentially by locating them near underground carbon storage sites. The number of new stations required will depend on factors such as the construction of new interconnectors between the UK and overseas electricity grids. Simon Harrison, head of strategy at the engineering company Mott MacDonald and co-chair of the committee that authored the report, added that having a small number of gas-fired power stations would enhance the UK’s resilience, even if they produce some carbon emissions. “We have to not be purist about unabated gas,” he remarked. This situation presents a tough decision for Ed Miliband, the energy and net zero secretary, as he strives to meet the ambitious target of decarbonising electricity generation by 2030. Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit think tank, noted: “Keeping a supply of unabated gas plants in 2030 – some new as older ones are planned to go offline before then – in reality would probably mean they are only on for short, infrequent periods of time. These plants will probably be expensive to run, and gas prices are predicted to remain volatile, so it is in consumer interests to keep their usage low as well as in the interests of our energy security and, of course, climate change.” Labour acknowledged in its manifesto the likely need to maintain some “unabated gas” – that is, without CCS – for supply security. The Committee on Climate Change has also stated that some gas-fired electricity could be necessary even as the UK aims for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Miliband will also face significant challenges in updating the UK’s ageing electricity grid and constructing new pylons required for power transmission from new onshore and offshore wind and solar farms. The report highlights the need for substantial work on transmission infrastructure, including new pylons. Although local objections are expected, the upgrade promises nationwide benefits, such as job creation, regional economic revitalisation, cleaner air, better health, and reduced climate crisis impacts. Protests against new pylons have been organised by local groups and supported by Green and Liberal Democrat politicians. While the Conservative party manifesto promised to bury pylons, this method is more expensive than using overhead cables. “We need to show people the benefits,” Harrison said, calling for a robust public debate on the plan. He urged Labour to engage more effectively than previous administrations: “There needs to be a different level of engagement than we have seen in recent times.” The report also advises caution regarding the future of biomass power in the UK, recommending that ministers make “stop-go decisions on future support” for it. Ministers face pressure to approve substantial new subsidies for large biomass-burning power stations like Drax, which provide baseload power but are controversial due to their reliance on wood burning. “Biomass generation is only worth supporting if the emissions savings are genuine and based on sustainable feedstocks, which is contested for biomass pellet imports to the UK,” the report said. A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero stated: “We are taking immediate action implementing our long-term plan to make Britain a clean energy superpower. This is the only way to guarantee our energy security and protect bill-payers permanently, which is why we will double onshore wind, treble solar, and quadruple offshore wind by 2030. We will also maintain a strategic reserve of gas power stations to guarantee supply security.”