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Cadent is leading several innovation projects that overcome these hurdles – from technology to logistics. These will deliver valuable evidence to support big decisions on the UK's future transport network. For example, hydrogen fuel cell vehi- cles of all types require a high purity level. We need to understand how the right fuel quality could be delivered through the gas network to maximise the accessibility of hydrogen fuel in large quantities. Work- ing with academia and technical experts, the HyMotion HG2V project will help us to answer this question and suggest workable solutions. The HyMotion North West project is part of Cadent's HyNet programme. Central to this is a pipeline delivering – by the mid 2020s – hydrogen to industry and house- holds. But it can also be used for a future network of hydrogen transport refuelling stations in the region. Cadent will be work- ing with local government and transport organisations to develop new hydrogen mobility projects, to support clean air programmes in Liverpool, Manchester and Cheshire. The delivery of hydrogen transport over the next few years in all UK regions will also likely be the ˆ rst contact with hydrogen energy for the everyday consumer. Safe and eŠ cient use of hydrogen in trains or buses can help build positive foundations for its potential future use in homes. The forthcoming updated UK Govern- ment Clean Air Strategy will set out the scale of the challenge that lies ahead in de- livering the necessary carbon savings from transport. It will be a tough ask on industry and consumers. New infrastructure will be needed, but smart and broad thinking on the re-use and diversiˆ cation of existing assets such as the gas network can deliver the emissions reductions, economic boost and most importantly improved air quality so urgently needed. – and diŽ erent types of gas – can pick up the baton, providing immediate and longer term solutions. You may know that Cadent is leading in this area. We have six Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) ˆ lling stations already on our gas network, with the prospect of 12 more joining the portfolio in the not-too-distant future. CNG is an alternative to diesel for HGVs and buses. It is one of the cleanest burning hydrocarbon fuels and the most practi- cal low carbon options to lower emissions from HGVs over the next 15 years. Go a step further: if that CNG is biomethane – made mostly from a range of waste products – we can achieve huge emissions savings (84 per cent 'well to motion', compared to diesel). Investors see the potential for biom- ethane, with predictions of huge and fast growth in the UK sector. We could see the number of biomethane plants rise by 50 per cent by 2020. In transport, the John Lewis Partnership is so conˆ dent in the environmental and economic beneˆ ts that it made a recent pledge to power its entire delivery œ eet with biomethane by 2028. They are among many big names in retail and logistics who are actively adopting this technology. Here at Cadent too, we've a vision to make all of our own delivery œ eet gas- powered in the near future, with plans for a new fuel station at our main logistics hub in Birmingham. Keeping up with demand So the UK must keep pace with such in- creasing demand from the UK and European delivery œ eets. Planning and policy deci- sions that continue to support the growth of CNG as a low carbon fuel will support its role in reducing commercial vehicle emis- sions over the next decade. A nationwide growth in gas fuelling stations, alongside our work to establish hydrogen production for heat over the next few years, could also lay a pathway to make hydrogen widely accessible as a green transport fuel. Hydrogen has potential to achieve the 'holy grail' – zero emissions at the point of use. This is stimulating high levels of re- search and innovation, and Cadent is proud to be part of that. Demonstrations of hydrogen for rail and marine look promising and hydrogen buses are already a reality in London and Aberdeen. These bold early projects oŽ er us a glimpse at the prospects for hydrogen transport, but to realise its full potential across all transport sectors we must meet some technical challenges. "We have six Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fi lling stations already on our gas network, with the prospect of 12 more joining the portfolio in the not-too- distant future." SIMON FAIRMAN, DIRECTOR, SAFETY AND NETWORK STRATEGY NETWORK / 15 / DECEMBER 2018 / JANUARY 2019