SGN hydrogen trial proves readiness of Local Transmission System

IGEM CEO Oliver Lancaster recently visited SGN’s LTS Futures project in Scotland, where for the first time in the UK a representative 30km stretch of the LTS pipeline, running between Granton near Edinburgh and Grangemouth, was repurposed to carry hydrogen.

The project demonstrates that the UK’s gas network can be repurposed to transport hydrogen, marking a major milestone on the journey to net zero. It showed that the same infrastructure which delivers energy to millions of households and businesses today could also play a crucial role in delivering low-carbon hydrogen in the future.

For the first time in Great Britain, engineers safely repurposed the high-pressure pipeline to carry hydrogen and completed essential operational tasks, including welding, drilling and flow stopping. These activities proved that techniques used to maintain and operate natural gas networks today can also be applied to live hydrogen pipelines.

The LTS Futures project provides a blueprint for converting the UK’s 11,600km LTS pipeline network to hydrogen. This could enable the creation of regional hydrogen hubs, support industrial clusters and provide a resilient backbone for a net zero energy system with minimal disruption to customers.

Tony Green, SGN’s Chief Strategy and Regulation Officer, said:

This landmark project is a major milestone for SGN and the wider energy sector, showing that the UK’s gas infrastructure can be repurposed for a net zero future. It demonstrates both infrastructure and workforce readiness for hydrogen, with our skilled engineers gaining vital experience through the live trial.

The hydrogen used in the project was supplied by INEOS from its Grangemouth site. Colin Pritchard, INEOS Grangemouth Sustainability Director, said:

This project is an important step towards reducing carbon emissions from homes and industry and we were pleased to be able to play our part in its success. Hydrogen has the potential to revolutionise the way we generate and use energy, underpinning the vital manufacturing sector, as we move towards a low-carbon future.

The success of SGN’s LTS Futures trial represents a significant achievement for the gas industry, offering clear evidence that the UK’s existing gas infrastructure can support hydrogen and accelerate progress towards net zero.

Read more: Pioneering SGN trial confirms UK gas network’s potential for low carbon future