GNI (UK) is a gas transporter, rather than an industrial end user.  We aim, in cooperation with the other NI gas network operators, to promote and facilitate integration of low carbon / renewable gas onto the NI gas network, and to develop same, to support decarbonisation of multiple sectors of NI’s economy, with a particularly important role in providing decarbonisation options to the industrial sector.

Initiatives being progressed locally and nationally

GNI (UK) are working collaboratively with the other NI GNOs – Mutual Energy, Phoenix Energy, firmus energy and Evolve – to facilitate replacing natural gas with renewable gases, such as biomethane and green hydrogen, on a long-term pathway to a net zero carbon network.

Through March to May 2024, we undertook a Biomethane Request for Information exercise with the other NI GNOs, which returned in excess of 3.5 TWh of potential production projects, which is sufficient to decarbonise the significant majority of NI’s current large industrial and commercial gas demand.  We have produced a Biomethane Connections Guide, to inform to developers how they can connect to the NI transmission network.

GNI (UK) are conducting research, in association with partners, on the Safety of Hydrogen Blends in the Northern Irish Gas Network.

Gas Networks Ireland are developing a plan for transitioning the gas network to hydrogen overtime, taking due consideration of: 

1. plans to develop a biomethane sector,
2. consideration of end uses and their likely locations where known,
3. the need to maintain energy security through the transition,
4. how existing end users can transition from natural gas to hydrogen, or to alternative energy solutions such as electric heating,
5. the potential use of hydrogen blends during a transition phase, the costs associated and how the transition from blending can occur.

The plan will look to identify where the network can be repurposed, or where new pipelines may be required and provide detailed costings and a programme of works.

In terms of practical investment, we are:

• involved in Project Causeway and Green Connect projects, through which we are supporting the development of CNG refuelling stations and infrastructure;
• developing a Centralised Gas Injection hub (in RoI) for biomethane producers, and;
• constructing a first of its kind connection in NI to gas transmission system for a large industrial user, other than for power stations.  This is to support LYCRA to transition their Maydown site from a solid fuel power plant to gas, removing the need for more than 45,000 tonnes of coal per year and, in doing so, to abate approximately 50,000 tons of C02 annually (equivalent to eliminating C02 emissions from over 10,000 homes in the Derry City & Strabane District Council area).  There will also be other greenhouse gas and air quality benefits, with reduced NOx, SO2, Particulate Matter emissions.

Local Funding Initiatives

GNI (UK) is a regulated utility, primarily funded through regulatory allowances approved by the Utility Regulator.  This includes some funding to contribute to efforts to facilitate a transition to renewable gases.

However, we do endeavour to avail of alternate funding sources wherever possible, to reduce costs to consumers.  This has recently included, for example:

• funding from the Department for the Economy NI’s Green Innovation Challenge Fund to research, in association with partners, the Safety of Hydrogen Blends in the Northern Irish Gas Network, and
• co-financing by the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for the Green Connect Project.